The Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off with a thrilling encounter between two formidable teams, Morocco and Tanzania.
As one of the favorites, Morocco will be looking to begin their campaign on a winning note. On the other hand, Tanzania will be aiming to cause an upset and make a statement in the tournament.
Match Preview:
Morocco showcased their football prowess at the 2022 World Cup, raising the bar for African teams.
Now, the spotlight is on them to continue their success in the Africa Cup of Nations, a competition where they have had a relatively disappointing track record.
Despite recent setbacks, including a draw to Cape Verde and a loss to South Africa in qualifying, Morocco bounced back with three consecutive victories against Liberia, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone.
Having won the AFCON trophy only once in 1976, Morocco enters this tournament with a talented lineup and immense pressure to make a statement.
Their opening match against Tanzania presents an opportunity to establish their dominance.
On the other side, Tanzania comes into the competition as rank outsiders, ranked 31st among African nations by FIFA.
However, under the leadership of Algerian coach Adel Amrouche, they are determined to showcase an improved performance compared to their previous outings.
While facing a challenging group, including Congo DR and Zambia, Tanzania will be targeting matches against these opponents to secure positive results.
Team News:
Morocco’s Bayern Munich defender, Noussair Mazraoui, carries an injury into the tournament, making his participation uncertain.
In his absence, Attiat Allah is expected to step in as his replacement at left-back. The midfield will be led by Hakim Ziyech, alongside Sofyan Amrabat from Manchester United and Azzedine Ounahi from Marseille.
Morocco’s strong defense is likely to feature Yassine Bounou in goal, with Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss in central defense, and Achraf Hakimi at right full-back.
For Tanzania, Haji Mnoga and Ben Starkie, who play in the English non-league, have been called up to represent the country, and they are expected to feature in the starting lineup.
Mbwana Samatta, an attacker from PAOK, has been identified as a potential key player for Tanzania in the competition.
Possible Lineups:
Morocco: (4-5-1)
Bounou;
Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Allah;
Amrabat, Ziyech, Ounahi, Harit, Adli;
En-Nesyri
Tanzania: (5-4-1)
Kamawa;
Mnoga, Mwaikenda, Mwamnyeto, Hamad, Yahya;
Salum, Mao, Yassin, Msuva;
Samatta
Prediction: Morocco 2-0 Tanzania
Based on recent form and head-to-head encounters, we predict a comfortable victory for Morocco in this match.
They have been in mixed form since their impressive World Cup campaign but regained their rhythm with three consecutive wins leading up to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Having convincingly defeated Tanzania less than two months ago, Morocco is likely to replicate their success and secure a 2-0 victory.
