Morocco kicked off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man Tanzania in their Group F opener at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San-Pedro.

Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri scored goals for the Atlas Lions after Tanzania’s Novatus Miroshi was sent off. Captain Romain Saiss had opened the scoring in the first half.

Despite being a dominant force in Africa for many years, Morocco is only vying for a second Cup of Nations championship 48 years after winning the first one in Ethiopia.

After defeating Spain and Portugal in elimination matches to advance to the semifinals of the African World Cup, Morocco shot to international prominence in Qatar two years ago.

Morocco, rated 13th in the world, 108 spots above the Taifa Stars, was expected to defeat group outsiders Tanzania in the southwest of the Ivory Coast.

Seven players from the starting lineup in the 2-0 World Cup semifinal loss to France in Qatar were used by Morocco at the outset.

There were three La Liga players: two from the Saudi Pro League teams and two each from the Premier League and Ligue 1. The line-up was completed by Moroccans with Turkish and Egyptian clubs.

Tanzania, whose roster featured English fifth-tier team Wealdstone’s Tarryn Allarakhia, stood in stark contrast to this. After 38 minutes, the struggling winger was replaced.

Anticipatedly, Morocco dominated possession and territory right from the start in a stadium called after the late Ivorian star Laurent Pokou.

He still holds the record for most goals scored in an individual AFCON group match with five, and the official match balls for the 2024 competition are named in his honour.

After nine minutes, En-Nesyri, one of the seven survivors from the semi-final match against France, had a half-chance, but the ball flew wide because he could not make a clean connection with it.

Tanzania showed determination in their movement and tackles, so it was not surprising that they trailed after 30 minutes in the sweltering 31 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.

Chelsea loanee Hakim Ziyech lifted a free kick over the defensive wall, and Saiss poked the loose ball over the line when goalkeeper Aisha Manula was unable to stop it.

Part of the blame must go to the seasoned Manula, who parried the ball infield rather than away from his goal.

Tanzania’s coach Adel Amrouche, who was born in Algeria, must have been concerned when the teams left the pitch at halftime because his team had not attempted a single goal in 45 minutes.

With 20 minutes remaining, Miroshi fouled Ounahi and was sent off for his second yellow card offence, severely hurting Tanzania’s hopes of tying the score.

On minute 77, Ounahi increased Morocco’s lead with a low shot from inside the box that went past Manula and into the corner of the net, capping off some deft, short passing.

En-Nesyri’s cross into the goal on the 80th minute gave Tanzania, who were playing with 10 men, another goal that was later verified by VAR.

Photo by Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix