Match ends, Côte d'Ivoire 0, Morocco 2.
Ivory CoastIvory Coast0MoroccoMorocco2
Morocco qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 2-0 victory away to Ivory Coast, who missed out on a fourth consecutive appearance at the finals.
Goals from Nabil Dirar and Medhi Benatia in Abidjan ensured that Morocco would finish as Group C winners.
Morocco needed only a draw in their last group game to finish top of the standings ahead of the Ivorians, who had to win to clinch a place in Russia.
After weathering an early storm, including a potential penalty call, Morocco scored two goals in the space of five minutes.
Dirar opened the scoring off a cross-turned-shot on 25 minutes and Benatia doubled the lead after a corner on the half-hour.
It is another achievement for Morocco's French coach Herve Renard, who famously won the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in 2015.
Morocco, who completed their qualifying campaign with maximum points and no goals conceded, last appeared in a World Cup in 1998 in France.
They topped the group on 12 points, four above the Ivorians. Gabon, who earlier drew 0-0 with Mali in Franceville, finished with seven and bottom-placed Mali five.
Line-ups
Ivory Coast
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Gbohouo
- 17Aurier
- 6Gbamin
- 5Kanon
- 19DeliSubstituted forKonanat 45'minutes
- 12FofanaSubstituted forCornetat 62'minutes
- 15GradelBooked at 90mins
- 14KessiéBooked at 10mins
- 9Zaha
- 7Doumbia
- 10KouassiSubstituted forKalouat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ble
- 2Maiga
- 3Konan
- 4Traoré
- 8Kalou
- 11Cornet
- 13Doukouré
- 18Traoré
- 21Assalé
- 22Bagayoko
- 23Sangaré
Morocco
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Mohamedi
- 17Dirar
- 5Benatia
- 6SaissBooked at 22mins
- 2Hakimi
- 14Boussoufa
- 8El Ahmadi
- 10BelhandaSubstituted forFajrat 90+1'minutes
- 7ZiyechSubstituted forS Amrabatat 82'minutes
- 13BoutaibSubstituted forBencharkiat 75'minutes
- 16N Amrabat
Substitutes
- 1Bono
- 3Chafik
- 4Banoun
- 9Boufal
- 11Fajr
- 15Mahi
- 18Harit
- 19S Amrabat
- 20Mendyl
- 21Bencharki
- 22Tagnaouti
- 23Alioui
- Referee:
- Bakary Gassama
- Attendance:
- 32,000
Match Stats
Home TeamIvory CoastAway TeamMorocco
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home24
- Away23
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Côte d'Ivoire 0, Morocco 2.
Booking
Max Gradel (Côte d'Ivoire) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Mbark Boussoufa (Morocco) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Morocco. Faycal Fajr replaces Younès Belhanda.
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Foul by Ghislain Konan (Côte d'Ivoire).
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Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Serge Aurier (Côte d'Ivoire).
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Younès Belhanda (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Wilfried Zaha (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Achraf Bencharki (Morocco).
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Max Gradel (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nabil Dirar (Morocco).
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Foul by Ghislain Konan (Côte d'Ivoire).
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Achraf Bencharki (Morocco) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt saved. Seydou Doumbia (Côte d'Ivoire) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Serge Aurier.
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Corner, Côte d'Ivoire. Conceded by Romain Saiss.
Substitution
Substitution, Morocco. Sofyan Amrabat replaces Hakim Ziyech.
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Hand ball by Serge Aurier (Côte d'Ivoire).