Arab Cup: Morocco saved at the last minute by its rival?
The expulsion of Abderrazak Hamdallah and the disappointing draw against Oman were feared to be the worst for the rest of the tournament. But Saudi Arabia’s victory has radically changed the situation: the Atlas Lions only need a draw on Monday to validate their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Friday evening was almost a nightmare for Tarik Sektioui’s men. Unable to break through Oman’s wall, the Lions saw their task complicated by the expulsion of their star striker. Abderrazak Hamdallah left the pitch at the start of the second half after a dangerous intervention, leaving his teammates with ten men and without an offensive solution. This frustrating 0-0 brings Morocco’s total to four points, temporarily raising doubts.
The relief came from the other match in the group. By beating the Comoros 3-1, Saudi Arabia took the lead in the standings with six points and validated their own qualification. This result is good news for Morocco: with only one point, Oman remains at a respectable distance.
The equation for Monday’s decisive match at 6pm becomes clear. Facing a Saudi team already qualified, Morocco simply needs to avoid defeat to advance. A draw would bring the team’s tally to five points, a mathematically unattainable score for Oman, even in the event of a victory against the Comoros.
