Morocco take on Ghana in an international friendly match on Tuesday.
The two countries last met at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, with Ghana winning 2-0 to progress to the quarter-finals that year.
Match preview
© Reuters
Morocco are managed by former Yugoslavia international Vahid Halilhodzic these days, with the former Ivory Coast and Algeria head coach taking the reigns in 2019.
The Bosnian has an impressive win rate of 50%, having lost only one of his 12 matches in charge so far, successfully guiding Morocco to finish top of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group to reach next January's finals in Cameroon.
The Atlas Lions now have a couple of testing friendlies against Ghana and Burkina Faso, as they look to successfully close the season ahead of the African World Cup qualifiers beginning in September.
Morocco have not beaten Ghana in three attempts since the turn of the century, so it would certainly demonstrate a step in the right direction should they manage to do so on Tuesday.
© Reuters
Like their forthcoming opponents, Ghana also topped their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group, with themselves and Sudan narrowly pipping South Africa in Group C to qualify for next year's finals.
Black Stars certainly have a less experienced manager at the helm, with former international Charles Akonnor progressing from several Ghanaian Premier League jobs and his role as assistant of the national team to take the head coach role at the beginning of 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Akonnor had to wait until October to take charge of his first game, which was a 3-0 loss to Mali. Three wins in five games since has forecasted gradual improvement, but there is a feeling that Ghana are still playing a long way from their potential.
Ultimately, Akonnor will be judged on how they fare during the World Cup qualifiers and next year's Africa Cup of Nations, but a couple of positive results against Morocco and Ivory Coast in the coming week could do wonders for the general confidence around the national team.
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Morocco will hope to have Hakim Ziyech involved from the start after the Chelsea winger's short break following his club's triumph against Manchester City in the Champions League final last weekend.
The Atlas Lions' goalscoring burden generally falls on Ziyech, Ayoub El Kaabi and Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri, with no other player in the current squad yet into double figures for the national team.
Ghana, meanwhile, continue to build much of their hopes around Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew, with the two brothers only one goal apart for their national team on 18 and 19 goals respectively.
Experienced defenders John Boye and Harrison Afful have not been called up this time by Akonnor, with the 47-year-old seemingly looking towards the future.
Morocco possible starting lineup:
Mohamedi; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Saiss, Masina; Jabrane, Amallah; Ziyech, Taarabt, Barkok; En-Nesyri
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Abalora; Anang, Opoku, Adjei, Rahman; Partey, Blay, Wakaso; A.Ayew, J.Ayew, Kudus
We say: Morocco 2-1 Ghana
Both teams have plenty of individual talent, but Morocco look to be a stronger unit at present with greater strength in depth to call upon.
As such, given their current unbeaten run, we expect the Atlas Lions to narrowly come out on top.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
