Scotland's World Cup opponents' incredible run ends amid VAR drama and boos
AFCON hosts held by Mali and now need to avoid defeat
Scotland’s World Cup opponents Morocco showed a small chink of weakness on Friday night as their 19-match competitive winning run came to an end against Mali.
The Moroccans drew 1-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat against the Malians. Brahim Diaz put the Atlas Lions ahead in first-half stoppage time with a penalty, only for the Eagles to level midway through the second half via their own spot-kick from Lassine Sinayoko.
Both awards were given after a VAR check, with Morocco particularly miffed when referee Abdou Abdel Mefire took some minutes to decide that home defender Jawad El Yamiq had fouled Sinayoko on 64 minutes.
Morocco pressed for a winner and so nearly found it in the last action of the match when Malian defender Nathan Gassama so nearly sent a diving header into his own net, saved by excellent reflexes from his goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
They were booed by some of their supporters after the match. Morocco are one of the favourites to win the tournament and could not back up their 2-0 win over Comoros on matchday one.
On four points, Morocco now go into Monday’s final group match against Zambia knowing that a defeat could eliminate them from the tournament. Zambia - who have Hibs midfielder Miguel Chaiwa in their ranks - are on two points alongside Mali, who face Comoros at the same time and will qualify if they win that game.
Morocco were once again without former Rangers striker Hamza Igamane, who is struggling with a hamstring issue. The 23-year-old has been in good form with Lille since making a summer switch to Ligue 1 in France, but picked up an injury ahead of the tournament. Morocco boss Walid Regragui is hopeful the seven-times capped forward will be fit for the game against Zambia.
Morocco are in Scotland’s World Cup pool and face Steve Clarke’s men at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, on Friday, June 19. It will be the first time the nations have met since the 1998 tournament, when Morocco won 3-0 in the French city of Saint-Etienne.
Scotland and Morocco also have Brazil and Haiti in a competitive-looking Group C.
Morocco have not lost a competitive game since they were defeated 2-0 by South Africa at AFCON on January 30, 2024 - a sequence now stretching to 22 matches.
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