AFCON 2023: Morocco shine bright; DR Congo, Zambia play out a pulsating 1-1 draw
The Atlas Lions of Morocco cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Tanzania at the Stade Laurent Pokou In their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
The Moroccans from the start took a total dominance of the game and created all the goal scoring opportunities.
The 2022 World Cup semifinalist shot into the lead and it was Hakim Ziyech who saw his free kick parried out by Salum Manula only for oncoming Roman Saiss to pounce on for the game’s opener.
Novatus Miroshi was shown second yellow card and Tanzania were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute and Walid Regragui aided Morocco’s absolute control of the game from there.
Luck had s no place in this game as Morocco worked their way up to the cushioning through Azzedine Ounahi who after receiving a pass inside the box and without hesitation powered a thunderbolt to the underside of the goal for a 2-0 lead at 77 minutes.
Yousseff En Nesyri scored his own and Morocco’s third after receiving a pass inside the penalty area from Achraf Hakimi and showed composure before finding the far corner of goal to put Morocco 3-0 up against Tanzania. The goal stood after VAR review.
DR Congo recovered from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Zambia in their entertaining TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations opener on Wednesday.
The Leopards started brightly but fell behind against the run of play when Kings Kangwa capitalised on a goalkeeping error to fire Zambia ahead on 23 minutes.
Despite taking the lead, Chipolopolo looked blunt upfront with Paston Daka and Fashion Sakala failing to give enough problems to their opponents
The Zambians lacked attacking spark as Cedric Bakambu and co began to turn the screw at the other end.
The Congolese deservedly drew level just before half-time when Yoane Wissa converted Bakambu’s low cross.
After finishing the first half strongly, DR Congo picked up where they left off as Bakambu and Wissa continued threatening post-break.
The Leopards thought they had won a penalty only for the decision to be dramatically overturned by VAR.
In the end, both teams had to settle for a point from an entertaining Group F match in San Pedro.
The draw leaves DR Congo behind Morocco on goal difference after the Atlas Lions thrashed Tanzania 3-0 earlier on Sunday.
Morocco’s emphatic win over Tanzania earlier in the day means the Atlas LIons top Group D with three points followed by DR Congo and Zambia with a point each.
DR Congo will play Morocco next on Sunday, January 21 at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro while Zambia take on Tanzania.
