Morocco Dominates Ghana at CAN U23 2023: Superiority on Display

2023-06-27 22:38:47

For its second outing at CAN U23 2023 at home, Morocco enforced the hierarchy on Tuesday at the Moulay Abdallah stadium by beating Ghana (5-1). Vastly superior technically, the Cubs of the Atlas offered a festival leaving no crumbs to the Black Meteors.

Three goals in 30 minutes

Less than ten minutes following kick-off, Morocco grabbed their opponent by the throat. On the left, Ismael Saibari shifted behind Ez Abde who then deposited his vis-à-vis near the line of the corner and passed back for Amir Richardson. The Stade de Reims midfielder took over from the inside with his left foot and lobbed Ibrahim Danlad to the opposite side – a goal validated by the VAR (1-0, 7th). The Cubs, clearly in technical superiority, doubled the bet shortly before the quarter of an hour of play. After, confirmation from the VAR, Ismael Saibari indeed gratified the public with a superb collective goal following a one-two with Yanis Begraoui at the heart of the Black Meteors defense (2-0, 13th). Under respiratory assistance, Ghana miraculously escaped suffocation when Begraoui sent his recovery just above, on a center set back from Saibari (29th). A brief reprieve. Since in the process, the Pau FC striker corrected his shot and lifted the Moulay Abdallah stadium following a delicious double one-two with Saibari (3-0, 30th).

Ghana was on the verge of rupture. And yet, he reduced the mark shortly before half-time. Indeed, Salim Adams resumed at close range a strike repelled by the defense and offered the Black Meteors the right to believe in it (3-1, 43rd). The Ghanaians regained more hope two minutes later when Abdul Fatawu, with a cross shot, believed that his side were only one goal behind Morocco. But it was without counting on the VAR which canceled the goal for an irregularity at the start of the action (45th). Moment chosen by the Cubs to kill the game. On a two-on-one counter, Ez Abde perfectly followed a shot from Saibari pushed back on the goal line, and resumed in the net (4-1, 48th). The Ghanaians were dangerous from a free kick returned from the uprights, but left space behind their backs. The Moroccans didn’t ask for so much and added spice to the bill by Yanis Begraoui on a counter flash with Ez Abde in charge; the striker took the perfect opposite of Danlad and offered himself the double (5-1, 53rd).

VAR frustrates Ghana

Mass was said. The rhythm trailed off. We had to wait for the last quarter of an hour before seeing the pace pick up once more. Thanks in particular to the Black Meteors in search of honor. But despite their will, Ibrahim Tanko’s men were sorely lacking in sharpness, like Zubairu Ibrahim who wasted a goal offered on a plateau by Ernest Nuamah (84th). Zakaria Labib then thought of worsening the mark following a double save from Danlad – in front of Ibrahim Salah and El Ouazzani – but his goal was canceled by the VAR for an offside by El Ouazzani at the start of the action (90th + 2) . Whatever. Morocco royally pocketed its second victory in a row, following having lays down the law before Guinea on Saturday (2-1). The ultimate failure of Zakaria Labib will remain anecdotal (90th + 8).

Morocco regains the lead in Group A ahead of Guinea, faller of the Congo a little earlier in the evening (1-3), with qualification for the semi-finals at stake. The group of Ez Abde, unleashed, will face the last, Congo (4th, 0 point), Friday for the last day of the group stage while Ghana (3rd) will cross swords with Guinea, 2nd.

Formations of Morocco-Ghana


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