AFCON 2021: Morocco Ends Malawi's Fairytale With a Hard Fought Victory in Last 16

• Morocco ended Malawi's fairytale run at the 2021 African Cup of Nations in a highly entertaining Last 16 encounter
• In-form forward Gabadinho Mhango scored a goal of the tournament contender to put the Flames in the lead
• However, Youssef En-Nesyri's header and Achraf Hakimi's masterful free-kick were enough to douse Malawi's fire

Morocco survived a scare against the brave Malawi in a Last 16 encounter of the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, winning a spectacular match 2-1.

The Flames' Gabadinho Mhango opened the scoring with an audacious strike from distance, before the Atlas Lions struck back with a header from Youssef En-Nesyri and a superb freekick from Achraf Hakimi.

Orlando Pirates' Mhango scored arguably the goal of the tournament in the seventh minute as he curled the keeper from near the halfway line, underlining his inclusion in the FIFA 22 Ultimate Team of the Week.

Unfortunately, his team then sat back, inviting a dangerous Moroccan side to constantly pepper their goals. Something had to give as En-Nesyri scored deep into injury time of the first half.

African champions Algeria face early AFCON exit after losing 35-game unbeaten run to Equatorial Guinea

Football

Hakimi struck his place-kick from wide of the goalposts in the 70th minute, finally breaking the back of a Malawian team that had been under siege up to that point.

The latter hardly threatened from this point, allowing Morocco to cruise in the last quarter of the game unscathed.

The Lions now wait to see who they will meet from the headline clash of the round between the Ivory Coast and Egypt.

Concern as Sadio Mane suffers worrying head injury after collision

Questions were raised on Tuesday, January 25 during the clash involving Senegal and Cape Verde after Sadio Mane was involved in a nasty collision with the opposition goalkeeper.

As reported on Sports Brief, Mane was forced off the pitch with a suspected concussion, moments after scoring a sublime goal to give his nation the lead in the second half.

In the worrying clip that is now doing rounds on social media, Mane seemed to have been knocked unconscious for a brief moment as medics rushed to issue first aid.

Viral video of Equatorial Guinea commentator celebrating win over Algeria raises goosebumps

Football