Morocco lived up to pre-tournament hype by beating 10-man Tanzania 3-0 to make a winning start to their 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Group F.
The World Cup semi finalists got their campaign under way with an impressive performance at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro on Wednesday.
Captain Romain Saiss opened the floodlight of goals to put the Atlas Lions ahead at halftime with Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri adding two more to emphasise their dominance, especially after Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off after a second caution.
En-Nesyri had to wait until he was on the substitutes’ bench before celebrating his goal.
En-Nesyri’s celebrations were initially cut short by the offside flag after he scored his team’s third goal in the 80th minute.
He had already made way for substitute Amine Harit to go on in his place before a VAR check confirmed he had been onside for Achraf Hakimi’s cross.
It prompted En-Nesyri’s teammates to rush to the Moroccan bench to congratulate the Sevilla forward.
Ounahi sealed the win seven minutes later after playing a one-two with Amine Adli and striking a low shot inside the left post, three minutes before En-Nesyri had the final say.
Although the African powerhouse for decades, Morocco are seeking only a second Cup of Nations title 48 years after lifting the trophy in Ethiopia.
Elsewhere, the Chipolopolo of Zambian drew 1-1 with the Republic of Congo.
