Fatima Tagnaout’s 87th minute strike was the difference as Morocco defeated Cameroon 1-0 on day 2 of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
With the win, the North Africans are now the second team to record a win in the six-team tournament after the Super Falcons beat Mali 2-0 in the opening match on Wednesday.
The Atlas Lionesses and the Indomitable lionesses went toe to toe in all aspects of the game, with the North Africans showing both power and athleticism similar to that of the west Africans. But the Moroccans proved better of both teams when Tagnaout got the only goal of the game, a result of a counter attack.
Tagnaout, Ghizlane Chebbak, Chhri Ghizlane, Zineb Redouani and Salma Amani all showed flashes of brilliance in a match officiated by Zouwaira Sani from Niger Republic.
The closest the Malians got was through Bella Rose, who brought the crowd to its feet after the quarter-hour when she targeted the near post after beating two opponents on the edge of the penalty box. The ball struck the crossbar and went out.
Action continues on Friday when Ghana’s Black Queens take on the Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Day 3 of the tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The Aisha Buhari Competition, tagged “Playing for Good” is being organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the support of Aisha Buhari Foundation, an NGO of Nigeria’s first lady.
The event is to help drum up support for women and girl-child empowerment for better opportunities as well as prepare the teams for the forthcoming CAF Women’s Nations Cup.
