The ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon Tuesday night produced another big casualty as defending champions and tournament favourite Ivory Coast were bundled out of the soccer fiesta after losing their last Group C game by a lone goal to Morocco who have against odds booked a place in the quarter-finals.
In the second match, DR Congo beat Togo 3-1 to book their ticket in the quarter final.
Morocco’s Rachid Alioui scored with a terrific shot from 24 yards to earn the win for Morocco and their coach Herve Renard, who led the Ivorians to the 2014 title.
Ivory Coast needed a win to go through but gave a below par performance, creating only two notable chances.
Wilfried Zaha shot weakly from 12 yards, while Salomon Kalou’s header from a tight angle clipped a post.
Morocco will play the winner of Group D in the last eight on Sunday.
DR Congo reached the AFCON last eight as Group C winners with a victory that eliminated Togo.
Tournament top scorer Junior Kabananga converted Chancel Mbemba’s pass for the opener, his third goal in three games.
Kabananga hit the post with a flicked header before Ndombe Mubele doubled the lead after the break, looping the ball over the keeper amid static defending.
Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba’s tidy finish gave Togo hope, but Paul-Jose M’Poku’s free-kick secured a deserved DR Congo win.
