We were expecting a walk in the park, a show of force from the Atlas Lions. This was not the case at all. This Sunday, in the round of 16 of its African Cup of Nations, Morocco struggled to eliminate Tanzania (1-0). Despite the return of Achraf Hakimi, starting for the first time since his ankle injury, Walid Regragui’s men struggled on the Tanzanian block, creating few opportunities.
However, they had a cold sweat. From the 3rd minute moreover, with the huge opportunity from Simon Msuva, not attentive enough to take over a cross poorly negotiated by Yassine Bounou. Or in the 59th minute, when Feisul Salum missed the frame of the goal, although it was completely empty.
Despite these two scares, the Atlas Lions largely dominated the debates. Stronger collectively, more technically skilled, the Moroccans put constant pressure on the Tanzanian defense, which despite everything did not concede a single shot on target in the first period. It was more delicate in the second, with first a strike from Ismael Saibari (47th), then a header from Abde Ezzalzouli well blocked by goalkeeper Masalanga (50th).
Brahim Diaz, him again
As the minutes passed, the pressure continued to increase. With a powerful strike from a free kick, Achraf Hakimi shook the crossbar (60th), before the hero Brahim Diaz finally opened the scoring with an improbable strike, from a particularly tight angle. Author of his 4th goal already, the Real Madrid striker, served by Hakimi, already becomes the first Moroccan to score so many goals in the same African Cup of Nations. And it’s far from over.
Drunk with joy, the former Manchester City and AC Milan player had a thought for his teammate Azzedine Ounahi, who appeared on crutches and a reinforced boot on his left foot before the match. The former Olympique de Marseille midfielder could already have ended his tournament.
His country continues the adventure. Despite this narrow success against the modest Tanzanians, the Atlas Lions will indeed be in the quarter-finals. Their next match will take place on Friday January 9 (8 p.m.) against South Africa or Cameroon, who face each other later in the evening.
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