In Rabat, at the ongoing 2023 CAF U-23 Championship, the youthful Moroccan team, known as the Atlas Lions, delivered a mesmerizing performance against Ghana's Black Meteors on Tuesday evening.
Morocco exhibited dominance throughout the match, leaving the Ghanaian side bewildered and incapable of dealing with their North African opponents. Right from the start, the hosts established their authority with a fast-paced and captivating display, keeping the Ghanaians in awe during the initial minutes of the game.
Michael Richardson's well-placed finish gave Morocco an early lead, disrupting and destabilizing the Ghanaian team. Ismael Saibari brilliantly doubled their advantage from close range, eluding the offside trap with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.
With 15 minutes remaining in the first half, Yanis Begraoui concluded a splendid team move to make it 3-0 in favor of Morocco. However, just before halftime, Salim Adams managed to pull one back for Ghana through a deflection, resulting in a 3-1 scoreline.
Shortly after the break, the outstanding captain Abdessamad Ezzalzouli added a fourth goal for Morocco, securing his third goal of the tournament. Begraoui soon secured his brace, extending the hosts' lead to 5-1, as they cruised towards a comfortable victory.
Ghana now faces a critical task of defeating Guinea in their final Group A match on Friday to avoid an early elimination from the tournament.
