Morocco Affirms Favorites Status with a 3-0 Triumph Over 10-Man Tanzania in AFCON 2023 Opener
In the kickoff of their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Group F, Morocco, deemed pre-tournament favorites, showcased their prowess by defeating Tanzania 3-0. The World Cup semifinalists delivered an impressive performance at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro on Wednesday.
Captain Romain Saiss secured a rare goal, propelling the Atlas Lions ahead at halftime. Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri added two more goals within three minutes during the second half, emphasizing their dominance. This was particularly evident after Tanzania’s Novatus Miroshi received a red card following a second caution.
En-Nesyri’s goal celebration faced an initial setback when the offside flag interrupted the moment. He scored the team’s third goal in the 80th minute but had to wait until on the substitutes’ bench. A VAR check later confirmed he was onside for Achraf Hakimi’s cross, prompting celebrations from En-Nesyri’s teammates.
Ounahi sealed the victory seven minutes later after a one-two with Amine Adli, striking a low shot inside the left post, just three minutes before En-Nesyri’s final contribution.
Despite being an African powerhouse, Morocco, seeking only their second Cup of Nations title 48 years after their triumph in Ethiopia, dominated the match against Tanzania in the Ivory Coast’s southwest. Morocco’s ranking at 13th in the world, 108 places above Tanzania, justified the anticipated victory.
Morocco’s lineup featured seven players from the team that started in the 2-0 World Cup semifinal loss to France in Qatar. The squad comprised three La Liga players, two each from the Premier League and Ligue 1, and two from the Saudi Pro League. Moroccans playing for Turkish and Egyptian clubs completed the lineup.
In contrast, Tanzania’s lineup included Tarryn Allarakhia from English fifth-tier outfit Wealdstone, who struggled and was replaced after 38 minutes.
The convincing 3-0 scoreline mirrored holders Senegal’s three-goal victory over The Gambia on Monday, reinforcing their status as the continent’s top-ranked sides and the teams most favored for success in the tournament.
