Morocco proved far too strong for 10-man Tanzania after running out comfortable 3-0 victors in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations opener at the Laurent Pokou Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Romain Saiss opened the scoring in the first half and two goals in the closing stages from Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri sealed the victory that took the Atlas Lions to the top of Group F ahead of DR Congo’s clash with Zambia.
Walid Regragui’s side had 56 per cent of the possession in the first half, but they made far better use of the ball as Tanzania failed to create a single chance before the break.
En-Nesyri had the first sniff at goal on nine minutes when he fired wide of the left post from inside the box after latching onto Abde Ezzalzouli’s header.
The deadlock was eventually broken on the half-hour mark as Saiss tapped home the rebound after Hakim Ziyech’s free-kicked was parried by Aishi Manula.
Ziyech was presented with a chance in the 36th minute, although he placed his shot too close to the goalkeeper from inside the 18-yard area.
The Atlas Lions headed into half time with a deserved 1-0 lead, but the Taifa Stars looked more determined when they came out in the second half and fashioned two early chances.
Novatus Miroshi just missed the target with a well-struck effort from range in the opening minute before Mohamed Hussein dragged his shot wide of the right post on 48 minutes.
En-Nesyri should have doubled Morocco’s lead three minutes later when he steered Ounahi’s cross wide of the left post from close range.
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The Taifa Stars suffered a setback with 20 minutes remaining as Miroshi received his marching orders for a second bookable offence to make their task even harder.
The North Africans seized the numerical advantage to make it 2-0 seven minutes later, with Ounahi beating Manula from the edge of the box after playing a one-two with Amine Adli.
Two quickly became three as En-Nesyri slotted past Manula in the 80th minute after being picked out at the back post by Achraf Hakimi’s cross and the goal was allowed to stand following a VAR check for offside.
Adli and Bilal El Khannouss had late chances to add gloss to the scoreline, but Manula was equal to the task on both occasions as he saved their respective shots in stoppage time.
Morocco (1) 3 (Saiss 30′, Ounahi 77′, En-Nesyri 80′)
Tanzania (0) 0
Morocco: Y. Bounou, A. Hakimi, N. Aguerd, R. Saiss, M. Chibi, S. Amrabat, S. Amallah (B. El Khannouss 72′), H. Ziyech (A. El Kaabi 81′), A. Ounahi (S. Boufal 81′), A. Ezzalzouli (A. Adli 71′), Y. En-Nesyri (A. Harit 81′).
Tanzania: A. Manula, H. Mnoga, B. Mwamnyeto, I. Hamad, M. Hussein, M. Yahya (M. Abraham 46′), H. Mao, N. Miroshi, M. Samatta (F. Salum 69′), C. M’Mombwa, T. Allarakhia (S. Msuva 38′).
