Morocco bash Benin and Nations Cup quarter-finals beckon

Morocco scored three goals within eight minutes as they beat Benin 4-0 to virtually clinch an African Nations Cup quarter-finals place.

Success lifted the Atlas Lions to six points in Group D, three more than Nigeria and South Africa with Benin pointless after two rounds. Morocco can afford a three-goal loss to South Africa and still qualify on goal difference.

Marouane Chamakh put the North Africans ahead after 17 minutes and Youssef Mokhtari, Abdeslam Ouaddou and Talal al-Karkouri struck in a late second-half scoring blitz.

It was a day of high-scoring, one-sided matches in the Group of Death with a couple of late goals from Osaze Odemwingie completing a surprisingly easy 4-0 victory for Nigeria over South Africa in Monastir four hours earlier.

After being eliminated in the first round of the previous two editions, Morocco were desperate for three points that would greatly enhance their chances of a place in the knockout phase.

Captain Noureddine Naybet from Spanish club Deportivo Coruna was making his 99th appearance for his country and poised to join the 'Century Club' which has just three African members, Egyptians Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan and Hani Ramzy.

The Atlas Lions had an early chance to take the lead only for midfielder Houssine Kharja to blaze wide when well positioned inside the penalty area after several failed attempts by Benin to clear the ball.

But with 17 minutes gone Morocco were ahead thanks to a moment of madness by Squirrels goalkeeper Rachad Chitou. He raced out to intercept a Youssef Safri free kick and missed the ball, leaving Chamakh to stroke the ball into an empty net.

Benin were spending considerable time and energy chasing after Moroccans, who calmly passed the ball around in midfield before triggering swift attacks as they sought to increase their advantage.

The minnows finally troubled giant Morocco goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami in the 37th minute as Moussa Latoundji connected spectacularly with a partial Safri clearance and his bicycle kick brought a good save from the Portugal-based custodian.

Oumar Tchomogo, joint leading scorer with five goals in the qualifying phase, should have finished better when he broke through on the right only to fire well wide and he quickly apologised to his team-mates.

Morocco finished the half strongly before a good crowd in the Mediterranean town. A strong tackle foiled Jawad Zairi before Chamakh went close with a brave flashing header from a Walid Regragui cross.

Youssef Hadji, scorer of the midweek winner against Nigeria, was introduced at half-time by Morocco coach Badou Zaki, a former Atlas Lions goalkeeper and 1986 African Footballer of the Year.

Benin created the first threat of the second half with a Tchomogo free kick bringing out the best in Fouhami, who dived to his right and pushed the ball away from the danger zone.

A looping header from Chamakh off a Kharja cross drifted just over and a flying header from al-Karkouri off the fifth Moroccan corner produced a fine save from Chitou.

Play was generally scrappy with Morocco holding a slight territorial advantage without being able to secure the second goal that would finish off enthusiastic but limited opponents.

The late goal burst started when Chitou pushed a Mokhtari corner against defender Anicet Adjamossi and the ball landed in the net. Ouaddou struck off a rebound and Al-Karkouri scored the softest goal of the tournament from a bouncing free kick.

In the final series of Group D matches Wednesday, Nigeria should beat neighbours Benin with several goals to spare while Morocco and South Africa square up in a clash of contenders to host the 2010 World Cup, which has been reserved for Africa.