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| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full coverage details |
Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech scored from five yards inside his own half as Morocco beat Georgia 3-0 in their final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup finals in Qatar.
The Blues winger, who returned to the Atlas Lions set-up in September following a long-running feud with former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, spotted keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili off his line in the first half.
Youssef En Nesyri and former Southampton midfielder Sofiane Boufal also scored for the North Africans in Sharjah.
Sevilla forward En Nesyri had given Morocco a fifth-minute lead with a close-range header before Ziyech doubled the lead in style in the 29th minute.
Boufal added a penalty with 18 minutes remaining following a foul on substitute Noussair Mazraoui as Burnley winger Anass Zaroury made his senior international debut as a second-half substitute following his switch of allegiance from Belgium.
Morocco open their Group F campaign against Croatia on Wednesday next week, and will also face Belgium and Canada in Group F
Earlier in the day, Ghana beat Switzerland 2-0 in Abu Dhabi as Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu and Bristol City forward Antoine Semenyo netted their first international goals.
The Black Stars go into the World Cup as the tournament’s lowest-ranked side, but will be boosted by the manner of their victory over Switzerland, who are 46 places above them in the world rankings.
Centre-back Salisu, 23, opened the scoring for the Black Stars with a looping header from a poorly defended corner in the 70th minute before Semenyo fired home from close range four minutes later after a storming run from Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Both players made their debuts for Ghana this year, with Salisu winning his first cap in a 3-0 friendly defeat by Brazil in September while 22-year-old Semenyo first played for the West Africans in the 3-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Madagascar in June.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi started in goal, with first-choice Jojo Wollacott ruled out with a finger injury and the experienced Richard Ofori also sidelined.
Ghana’s first Group H game comes against Portugal next Thursday and the Black Stars play South Korea on 28 November before facing Uruguay in their final group game on 2 December.
It is possible Otto Addo’s side could meet Switzerland, who are in Group G alongside Brazil, Serbia and Cameroon, in the last 16.
Line-ups
GHANA v Switzerland: Ati-Zigi, Lamptey, Amartey, Salisu, Rahman, Abdul Samed, Owusu, Afriyie Barnieh, A Ayew, J Ayew, Williams.
Subs used: Sulemana (for Williams 62), Sowah (for Afriyie Barnieh 62), Semenyo (J Ayew 62), Kyereh (for Owusu 62), Aidoo (for Salisu 77), Seidu (for Lamptey 80).
MOROCCO vs Georgia: Bono, Hakimi, Attiat-Allal, Aguerd, Saiss, Jabrane, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.
Subs: Mazraoui (for Hakimi 46), Amrabat (for Ounahi 46), Hamdallah (for En Nesyri 46), El Yamiq (for Saiss 63), Chair (for Amallah 63), Zaroury (for Ziyech 69).
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