AFCON 2023: Morocco begins campaign with stunning 3-0 victory over Tanzania

Stunning Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, launched their Africa Cup of Nations Group F campaign on Wednesday in San Pedro with a convincing 3-0 victory over 10-man Tanzania.

Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri scored goals for the Atlas Lions after Tanzania’s Novatus Miroshi was sent off. Captain Romain Saiss had opened the scoring in the first half.

Despite being a dominant force in Africa for many years, Morocco is only vying for a second Cup of Nations championship 48 years after winning the first one in Ethiopia.

After defeating Spain and Portugal in elimination rounds to advance to the semifinals of the African World Cup, Morocco shot to worldwide attention in Qatar two years ago.

Morocco, rated 13th in the world, 108 spots above the Taifa Stars, was expected to defeat group outsiders Tanzania in the southwest of the Ivory Coast.

Seven players from the starting lineup in the 2-0 World Cup semifinal loss to France in Qatar were used by Morocco from the outset.

There were three La Liga players: two from the Saudi Pro League teams and two each from the Premier League and Ligue 1. The line-up was completed by Moroccans with Turkish and Egyptian teams.

Tanzania, whose roster featured English fifth-tier team Wealdstone’s Tarryn Allarakhia, stood in stark contrast to this. After 38 minutes, the struggling winger was replaced.

Anticipatedly, Morocco dominated possession and territory right from the start in a stadium called for the late Ivorian hero Laurent Pokou.

Ivorian star honoured

His five goals in a 1970 AFCON group match is a record for an individual scorer that still stands, and the official match balls for the 2024 tournament are also named after him.

En-Nesyri, one of the seven survivors from the semi-final against France, had a half-chance after nine minutes, but did not connect cleanly with the ball and it flew wide.

Tanzania displayed intensity, both in movement and tackling, but it came as no surprise when they fell behind on the half-hour mark in 31 Celsius (87 Fahrenheit) heat.

Hakim Ziyech, on loan to Galatasaray from Chelsea, lifted a free-kick over the defensive wall and when goalkeeper Aisha Manula failed to grasp it, Saiss poked the loose ball over the line.

Experienced Manula must shoulder some of the blame as he parried the ball infield rather than away from his goal.

When the teams left the pitch at half-time, it must have concerned Algeria-born Tanzania coach Adel Amrouche that his side did not produce a single goal attempt in 45 minutes.

Tanzanian hopes of levelling suffered a huge blow with 20 minutes remaining when Miroshi fouled Ounahi and was sent off for his second yellow-card offence.

Ounahi rounded off slick, short passing to increase the Moroccan lead on 77 minutes with a low shot from inside the box that flew past Manula into the corner of the net.

Tanzania were battling with 10 men and conceded again on 80 minutes when En-Nesyri fired a cross into the net for a goal that was confirmed by VAR two minutes later.

AFP