![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63NFLLQQ75IOQYILDEP7R322DY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9acaa07d7a2ff957785656736c56ff13a899338fd9650d72f3d28e25f7501598&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Faycal Fajr during the Afcon match against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZA76375JWDVJFJFUFU2KCUSRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=372f59ca6800c4f41419e0535faf1505018336e97fdbea47a08eec1945ccc969&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations match against Gabon at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 18, 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2SCKYFCJKQ25R5WUBS7FQFUSDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=90c89ab1ca0932fe605a2f8a3eeacb6b511cfd387ec06107fff7b1594a501f7f&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's forward Sofiane Boufal, left, celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EP7RFZJNKD36GLEWYWPWGFQ5QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd896f293a6770633be1ce6bbaf3057e930d2c7d6065345e2f18ef9f54785815&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's defender Achraf Hakimi scored in the Group C Afcon match against Gabon in Yaounde. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4OZYVCRSOEGVBYCJ2L6MWOGA7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab66d3763fb7fe571e358934a0290bfba0ccf50654542aa8f78d85d9a356c171&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's forward Sofiane Boufal celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KFI2UEP4JCZDPPDI3ODHYQNIHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=95310fab1e4756d416076f44a5868d35b6f0675f67e575d797d57dad8f4da4a8&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Selim Amallah, top, is tackled by Gabon's midfielder Andre Biyogo Poko. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LWWJHP5YTF6JRO3W6ATAGTVZ2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d2b295bffb98ad182bd9054c1614064c084db2c95e0b239f73496a0865542e6&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Bosnian head coach Vahid Halilhodzic during the match against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHNAQ7V2SWMLLGQRVECGOSYKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb74de73416802ae726c0fb42538709e94b5981ad4bb19d468cb2815c5df8c61&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Sofyan Amrabat fights for the ball with Gabon's midfielder Guelor Kanga. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63NFLLQQ75IOQYILDEP7R322DY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9acaa07d7a2ff957785656736c56ff13a899338fd9650d72f3d28e25f7501598&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Faycal Fajr during the Afcon match against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZA76375JWDVJFJFUFU2KCUSRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=372f59ca6800c4f41419e0535faf1505018336e97fdbea47a08eec1945ccc969&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations match against Gabon at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 18, 2022. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2SCKYFCJKQ25R5WUBS7FQFUSDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=90c89ab1ca0932fe605a2f8a3eeacb6b511cfd387ec06107fff7b1594a501f7f&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's forward Sofiane Boufal, left, celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EP7RFZJNKD36GLEWYWPWGFQ5QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd896f293a6770633be1ce6bbaf3057e930d2c7d6065345e2f18ef9f54785815&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's defender Achraf Hakimi scored in the Group C Afcon match against Gabon in Yaounde. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4OZYVCRSOEGVBYCJ2L6MWOGA7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab66d3763fb7fe571e358934a0290bfba0ccf50654542aa8f78d85d9a356c171&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's forward Sofiane Boufal celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KFI2UEP4JCZDPPDI3ODHYQNIHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=95310fab1e4756d416076f44a5868d35b6f0675f67e575d797d57dad8f4da4a8&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Selim Amallah, top, is tackled by Gabon's midfielder Andre Biyogo Poko. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LWWJHP5YTF6JRO3W6ATAGTVZ2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d2b295bffb98ad182bd9054c1614064c084db2c95e0b239f73496a0865542e6&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's Bosnian head coach Vahid Halilhodzic during the match against Gabon. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHNAQ7V2SWMLLGQRVECGOSYKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb74de73416802ae726c0fb42538709e94b5981ad4bb19d468cb2815c5df8c61&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Sofyan Amrabat fights for the ball with Gabon's midfielder Guelor Kanga. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63NFLLQQ75IOQYILDEP7R322DY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9acaa07d7a2ff957785656736c56ff13a899338fd9650d72f3d28e25f7501598&width=400&height=225)
Morocco's midfielder Faycal Fajr during the Afcon match against Gabon. AFP
Morocco prepare for Afcon litmus test amid Hakim Ziyech's exile distraction
Vahid Halilhodzic's team take on Malawi in knockout phase with some concerns about inconsistency in quality of final pass
![Ian Hawkey](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F96f52b9a-4555-4c17-8cff-6fc2526824d5.png?smart=true&auth=687abaf05f4cc86a26f3998a06318c496c949aa829c6b4f450a8511e4a3a5557&width=70&height=70)
Ian Hawkey
25 January, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic