Morocco Held to Goalless Draw by Cape Verde in Friendly Match

The Moroccan players showed an offensive posture from the start, taking possession of the ball and multiplying the incursions on the flanks. The first real thrill of the match came as early as the 5th minute, with a golden opportunity for Abderrazak Hamed-Allah. Despite a well-organized defensive block, the Cape Verdean team suffered several assaults from the Atlas Lions, notably Imrane Louza and Hakim Ziyech, the latter wearing the captain’s armband for the occasion.

Faced with the persistent threat of the Moroccans, the Cape Verde team responded with rapid counterattacks, putting the Moroccan defense to the test. The Moroccan defenders showed remarkable solidity, resisting each offensive of their opponents. Despite the Cape Verdean attempts, the score remained goalless at halftime.

Upon returning from the locker room, the entry into play of Youssef En-Nesyri, Oussama Idrissi, Jawad El Yamiq and Zakaria Aboukhlal injected new momentum into the Atlas Lions. In front of a full stadium and many supporters, including many families, the Moroccans put constant pressure on the Cape Verdean defense, but failed to find the opening. This friendly match is part of the national team’s preparations for its next confrontation against South Africa on June 17 in Johannesburg, in view of the CAN Côte d’Ivoire-2023 qualifiers.