Morocco made a winning start to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 triumph over ten-man Tanzania on Wednesday evening.
The Atlas Lions hauled in Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, Abde Ezzalzouli and Youssef En-Nesyri.
En-Nesyri earned a decent chance for the North Africans in the earlier stages from a knockdown in the area, but he couldn't get in a proper shot.
In an even spell, the Atlas Lions took control on the half-hour mark as captain Romain Saiss tucked in from a rebound after goalkeeper Aishi Manula spilled Ziyech's cracking free-kick into play.
Eight minutes later, the Taifa Stars made a tactical change as Tarryn Allarakhia was sacrificed for Simon Msuva.
It was a strong opening to the second period for the Taifa Stars, who got their first shot in when Novatus Miroshi lined-up from 30-yards after drawing an angle and blazed over.
The Taifa Stars remained courageous in their pursuit to salvage something from the match and denied the Atlas Lions spaces to penetrate.
A set-back would follow for the East Africans inside the final 20 minutes, with Miroshi dismissed following a second bookable offence and leaving them reduced on the park.
This was welcomed greatly by the Atlas Lions who went and doubled the lead when Azzedine Ounahi moved a yard in the penalty area to finish off in the bottom-corner.
Sevilla striker En-Nesyri added a third goal in the final nine minutes after running onto Hakimi's cross to tap in as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overruled the referee's offside decision to award the goal, sealing a convincing win for the North Africans..
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