AFCON 2019
Morocco vs Benin
Al Salaam Stadium, Cairo
Friday, 05-07-2019 @7pm
Morocco and Benin will meet in the first Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 contest at Al Salam Stadium, Cairo on Friday evening.
Morocco managed to top Group D with an unbeaten streak. They won all their three matches in the group stage with an identical 1-0 scoreline.
Benin are unbeaten in their last six matches but were lucky to reach the knockout stage of the competition after registering three back to back draws.
Morocco needed a M’bark Boussoufa late winner to overcome South Africa in their most recent fixture whereas Benin played out to a goalless stalemate with Cameroon in their last game.
The two countries have previously met on four occasions, Morocco are unbeaten against Benin and have won all of the meetings. They last faced off during an international friendly in 2008, with Atlas lions winning 3-1.
The two sides have no reports of injuries or suspensions heading into this encounter.
Herve Renard’s side will look up Youssef En Nesyri, Younes Belhanda, Hakim Ziyech, Nordin Amrabat and Moubarak Boussoufa for a place into the quarterfinals.
Mickael Pote, Jodel Dossou and Cebio Soukou are expected to lift up the squirrels.
The Moroccans are eager to add another continental triumph to the one they achieved in 1976, while Benin will be looking for a maiden victory in the first participation at this stage.
The winners of the tie will be facing off against either Uganda or Senegal in the quarterfinals.
The other round of 16 fixture on Friday
-Senegal vs Uganda @10pm
