Take a bow, Rachid Alioui.
The Moroccan striker scored one of the goals of the tournament at the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday night, and in the process knocked-out holders Ivory Coast.
Alioui collected the ball around 35-yards from goal, spotted the Ivorian goalkeeper off his line, and bent a beautiful, curling shot into the net.
Le champion en titre tombe au 1er tour #CAN2017 ! La Côte d'Ivoire victime de la magie d'Aloui🔥#MARCIV | La RDC 🇨🇩 et le Maroc 🇲🇦 en quarts! pic.twitter.com/wLiAZXfuDx
— KAN FC âš½ (@kanfootballclub) January 24, 2017
Alioui’s goal secured a 1-0 win and Morocco’s place in the quarter-finals, as well as ended the Ivory Coast’s involvement in the tournament being held in Gabon.
The holders could only draw their previous two group games, and came into tonight’s fixture against Morocco needing a victory.
The Democratic Republic of Congo topped the group with seven points, Morocco earned six points from three games, Ivory Coast got just two and Togo, captained by Emmanuel Adebayor finished bottom, finished with just one point.
However, the end of Ivory Coast’s involvement in the tournament is good news for some Premier League clubs.
Manchester United will soon be able to select central defender Eric Bailly again…
Commiserations to Eric Bailly, whose Ivory Coast side have been knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-0 defeat to Morocco. pic.twitter.com/NWxs1v0h7Y
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 24, 2017
Wilfried Bony will be back at Stoke City…
And Wilfried Zaha will be back to continue Crystal Palace’s relegation battle.
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
