World Cup semi-finalists Morocco cruised to a 3-0 win over 10-man Tanzania as they opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Wednesday, while 2012 champions Zambia held the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Captain Romain Saiss, Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri all netted for Morocco in the Ivorian coastal city of San-Pedro, while Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off. Although an African powerhouse for decades, Morocco are seeking only a second Cup of Nations title, 48 years after lifting the trophy in Ethiopia.
In the other match, points were shared as the Southern African affair pitting DR Congo and Zambia ended in 1 all draw.
Kings Kangwa lobbed Zambia into the lead midway through the first half after Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi came racing out of his area and could not get back into position in time. But Yoane Wissa, who has four goals in the English Premier League this season for Brentford, converted Cedric Bakambu’s low centre to make it 1-1 before the half-hour mark, and that was how it finished.
The next games in Group F are on Sunday, with Morocco meeting the Congolese before Zambia take on Tanzania.
All teams at the Cup of Nations have now played once, and the action continues on Thursday with a triple-header of matches in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s economic capital. Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau meet at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium at 1400 GMT before Group A rivals Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast face off in a heavyweight clash.
That will be followed later by the Group B clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium between Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, the record seven-time African champions, and a Ghana side reeling after losing their opening match to Cape Verde.
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