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10 months ago
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Manchester United manager Sofyan Amrabat was sent off twice in the final moments of Morocco’s surprise exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The midfielder received a second yellow for tripping Teboho Mokoena as the Atlas Lions desperately sought an equalizer in injury time of their round of 16 match against South Africa, where they were 1 down -0. Confusion reigned when referee Mahmood Ismail was called onto the video screen to review the incident, leaving Amrabat and Morocco in apparent hope that the yellow card would be overturned. Amrabat was already heading towards the tunnel when the referee called him back to overturn the warning and turn it into a straight red card for canceling a scoring chance.
Morocco were frustrated by a delay that produced essentially the same result, in a scenario that would never have saved Amrabat since yellow cards currently remain outside the scope of VAR. Their dismay was compounded when Mokoena beat Bono from the ensuing free-kick, sealing South Africa’s remarkable 2-0 victory and a stunning exit for Africa’s top-ranked nation, who missed a chance to equalize when Achraf Hakimi’s 85th-minute penalty hit the crossbar.
The Atlas Lions will have to pull themselves together after Tuesday evening’s crushing defeat. Their fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African team to reach a semi-final, will seem a long way away after they became the latest big name to withdraw from the AFCON.
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
