Afcon 2023: Morocco 3-0 Tanzania – Atlas Lions beat 10-team Taifa Stars

Afcon 2023: Morocco beat 10-man Tanzania 3-0 – highlights

Morocco, the pre-tournament favorites, kicked off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Group F with a convincing victory over 10-man Tanzania.

The Atlas Lions took the lead after half an hour when Romain Saiss struck after Hakim Ziyech's evasive free-kick was again put in danger.

Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off with 20 minutes left and Azzedine Ounahi's deft finish doubled their lead.

Youssef En-Nesyri converted Achraf Hakimi's cross and rounded off the victory.

Morocco won its only continental title in 1976 but is among the expected challengers for the trophy in Ivory Coast after its historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup.

Their success in Qatar against the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal largely came from a counter-attacking side, and as Africa's top-ranked side, Walid Regregui's men will now have to be up front against weaker opposition.

The Atlas Lions did this easily in their opening game in San Pedro, with goalkeeper Bono mostly there as a spectator.

Ziyech's free-kick gave captain Saiss the chance to break the deadlock and the former Chelsea winger parried away an attempted shot before half-time.

Tanzania, participating in the Afcon finals for the third time and still looking for their first win, struggled for rhythm and their task became more difficult when Miroshi was dismissed.

He had received a yellow card for bringing down Ounahi just outside the penalty area in the first half and the Taifa Stars player received his second booking for another late challenge on the Moroccan midfielder.

The lively Ounahi got himself on the scoresheet with a controlled finish into the bottom left corner after deft passing, helping Morocco avoid a potential upset in a tournament where that was the case caused a few surprises in the opening round.

Former winners DR Congo and Zambia meet in the other Group F game on Wednesday evening (20:00 GMT), with all four teams returning to action on Sunday.

Lineups

Morocco

formation 4-2-3-1

1Bono

2Judge5Aguerd6Saiss27Chibi

4He loved15Amallah

7Ziyech8thOuch16Ezzalzouli

19En-Nesyri

• 1Bono
• 2Judge
• 5Aguerd
• 6SaissBooked for 52 minutes
• 27ChibiBooked at 61 minutes
• 4He loved
• 15AmallahReplaced byEl Khannoussat 72'protocol
• 7ZiyechReplaced byEl Kaabiat 81'protocol
• 8thOuchReplaced byBufalat 81'protocol
• 16EzzalzouliReplaced byJudiciallyat 71'protocol
• 19En-NesyriReplaced byHariat 81'protocol

Substitute

• 9Tissoudali
• 10Hari
• 11Saibari
• 12Mohammed
• 13Abdelhamid
• 14El Azouzi
• 17Bufal
• 20El Kaabi
• 21Judicially
• 23El Khannouss
• 24Richardson
• 26Riyadh

Tanzania

formation 4-3-3

18Manula

2A lot14In a hurry4Hamad15Hussein

3Yahya7Mao20Miroshi

10Samatta21M'Mombwa11Allarakhia

• 18Manula
• 2A lot
• 14In a hurry
• 4Hamad
• 15HusseinBooked for 90 minutes
• 3YahyaReplaced byAbrahamat 45'protocol
• 7MaoBooked at 22 minutes
• 20MiroshiBooked for 70 minutes
• 10SamattaReplaced byHelloat 69'protocol
• 21M'MombwaBooked at 61 minutes
• 11AllarakhiaReplaced byThe brushat 38'protocol

Substitute

• 5Work
• 6Hello
• 8thAbraham
• 12The brush
• 13Kakolanya
• 16You're crazy
• 22Denis
• 23Starkie
• 24Banda
• 25Zakaria
• 26Van den Bos
• 27Sagaf

Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat

Live text

1. The game ends: Morocco 3, Tanzania 0.

2. The second half ends, Morocco 3, Tanzania 0.

3. Mohamed Hussein (Tanzania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

4. Amine Harit (Morocco) wins a free kick on the right wing.

5. Foul by Mohamed Hussein (Tanzania).

6. Foul by Achraf Hakimi (Morocco).

7. Morice Abraham (Tanzania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8. Corner, Morocco. Goal conceded by Aishi Manula.

9. Attempt saved. Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco) tries with his left foot from the left side of the six yard box, saved by the goalkeeper in the center of the goal.

10. Attempt saved. Amine Adli (Morocco) tries with his left foot from a distance, but the shot is saved in the bottom left corner. Supported by Bilal El Khannouss.

11. Foul by Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco).

12. Morice Abraham (Tanzania) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

13. Corner, Morocco. Indebted to Bakari Mwamnyeto.

14. Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Foul by Simon Msuva (Tanzania).

16. Corner, Morocco. Granted by Morice Abraham.

17. Corner, Morocco. Given by Charles M'Mombwa.

18. VAR decision: Morocco – Tanzania 3-0 (Youssef En-Nesyri).

19. Substitution Morocco. Amine Harit replaces Youssef En-Nesyri.

20. Substitution Morocco. Sofiane Boufal replaces Azzedine Ounahi.