Morocco started in style at the African Cup of Nations by winning 3-0 against Tanzania. In a match controlled from start to finish, the Atlas Lions showed their superiority and their ambition in this competition.
It was Romain Saïss who opened the scoring for Morocco in the 30th minute, taking advantage of a rebound following a save by the Tanzanian goalkeeper on a free kick from Hakim Ziyech. This opening score allowed Morocco to gain confidence and dominate the match.
Despite initial resistance from Tanzania, who failed to create a single chance in the first half, hopes of a turnaround were dashed in the 70th minute. Novatus Miroshi was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul, leaving his team down to ten players.
Morocco took the opportunity to increase the score in the 77th minute thanks to Azzedine Ounahi, who completed a superb one-two with Amine Adli before lodging the ball into the left net. Three minutes later, Youssef En-Nesyri, already replaced on the field, saw his goal awarded after a VAR check which confirmed that he was indeed in an offside position.
This goal caused euphoria on the Moroccan bench, where his teammates rushed to congratulate him. A great demonstration of the team spirit and solidarity that drives this Moroccan team.
This victory gives great confidence to Morocco, which is one of the favorites of the competition after its brilliant performance in the semi-final of the World Cup in Qatar. It also puts pressure on other big teams like Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria, who all failed in their first match.
Now, Morocco must capitalize on this good start and continue to progress throughout the competition. Only the top two teams from each group are guaranteed to qualify for the knockout stage, so it is crucial to stay focused and keep the level of play high.
Heat and humidity are important factors in this competition in Ivory Coast, and Morocco is aware of the importance of adapting to these difficult conditions. You will have to manage your efforts and accept not always having possession of the ball, while making the most of the weapons available to the team.
In summary, this convincing victory for Morocco at the opening of the African Cup of Nations testifies to the quality of this team and its ambition in this competition. The Atlas Lions showed that they were ready to go far and defend their status as favorites. We can’t wait to see the rest of their journey in this thrilling competition.