Cote d'Ivoire out after failing to beat Morocco; DR Congo wins Group C
The reigning champion is out at the Africa Cup of Nations.
On Tuesday, in a Group C fixture Cote d'Ivoire had to win in order to advance, Les Elephants were poached by Morocco and fell 1-0, bringing their adventure at the Africa Cup of Nations to an end. The match was poor and featured only one moment of magic, in which Rachid Aliouli curled a peach of a shot over Sylvain Gbohouo to score the lone goal.
Ivory Coasts elimination means the 4th consecutive time a defending Champ has failed to make the quarters. #AFCON2017 #JoyAFCON
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) January 24, 2017
Cote d'Ivoire was, simply put, awful throughout the Africa Cup of Nations' group stage. Salomon Kalou was Les Elephants' one bright spot, and there will surely be many questions about why Michel Dussuyer was appointed as the national team's manager while Max Gradel, Wilfried Zaha, Eric Bailly, Wilfried Bony, and Lamine Kone return to the Premier League.
As for Morocco, its progression as Group C's runner-up is remarkable given the injuries to its players prior to the Africa Cup of Nations. Oussama Tannane, Nordin Amrabat, Sofiane Boufal, and Younes Belhanda are all missing from the Atlas Lions' squad. However, it appears as though Herve Renard's side is still capable of grinding out results without four of its key members.
Elsewhere, the Democratic Republic of Congo won 3-1 against Togo to top Group C and punch its ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations' quarter-finals.
Junior Kabananga scored his third goal in three games before Firmin Ndombe Mubele doubled DR Congo's lead after the interval.