Defending champions, Ivory Coast, suffered shocking exit from the Africa Cup of Nations following an abysmal 1-0 defeat to the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Wednesday night.
The Elephants drew blanks against Togo in the first day, 2-2 with DR Congo on match day two and needed an outright win over Morocco to salve their star studded squad from humiliation.
That was never going to be the case, especially while facing their former Coach Herve Renard who crossed over to Morocco after winning the 2015 title with the Elephants.
Renard, 48, is looking to become the first to coach to win the coveted continental trophy with the third different nation following successes with Zambia in 2012 and the Ivorians in the last edition.
Rachid Alioui scored the lone goal with a scorching shot just after the interval.
The North Africans disarmed Ivory coast in the midfield and launched a quick attack through to Youssef En-Nesyri down the left who later cut in for Aliou. The substitute set the ball and curled a screamer beyond Gbohou’s reach.
The Ivorians launched several efforts to come back into the game but the resolute defending in their target’s goal was determined throughout the remaining minutes.
DR Congo qualify as group winners and will be facing the runner ups of group D while Morocco play the winner.
Lineups:
Morocco: Munir, Hamza Mendyl, Manuel da Costa, Medhi Benatia, Romain Saiss, Youssef En-Nesyri, Karim El Ahmadi, Faycal Fajr (83′ Mounir Obbadi), Mbark Boussoufa, Nabil Dirar, Aziz Bouhaddouz (45’Rachid Alioui, 90′ Khalid Boutaib).
Ivory coast: Sylvain Gbohouo, Wilfried Kanon, Salomon Kalou, Franck Yannick Kessie (84′ Max-Alain Gradel), Wilfried Zaha (75′ Jonathan Kodjia), Cheick Doukoure (52′ Jean Michael Seri), Wilfried Bony, Serge Aurier, Simon Deli, Serey Die, Eric Bailly