AFCON 2023: Kenyans on Twitter Mock Neighbours Tanzania After Loss to Morocco

• Morocco secured a dominant start to the AFCON 2023, beating Tanzania 3-0
• Taifa Stars’ defeat sparked reactions from the Kenyan football fanbase online
• The East Africans finished the tie with 10 men after Novatus Miroshi’s red card

2022 World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco, kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)2023 campaign with a thumping 3-0 victory over Tanzania on Wednesday, January 13, 2024.

Captain and Wolverhampton defender, Romain Saiss, Olympique Marseille’s Azzedine Ounahi, and Sevilla striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, got on the scoresheet.

The East Africans, however, had to finish the game with 10 men after Shakhtar Donetsk's Novatus Miroshi received a second booking for fouling Ounahi.

Tanzania’s loss sparked a hilarious reaction from Kenyans online, as reported by Nation Sports. The two countries have always been rivals in football, and with Kenya not having qualified this time, a sense of jealousy and relief could be seen from the tweets and reactions captured.

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Considering Taifa Stars have yet to win a game in the AFCON, Kenyans on Twitter had much to say.

Here are some funny posts following Adel Amrouche boys' loss to the Atlas Lions:

Morocco's victory over Tanzania in Group F was widely anticipated, given their 13th position in the latest FIFA world rankings, starkly contrasting to Tanzania's 108th rank.

Their starting XI included seven players who started in the World Cup semi-final against France, with various talents from the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Saudi Pro League and Ligue 1.

On the other hand, Tanzania's squad visibly struggled in the challenging conditions. Their star, Tarryn Allarakhia from English fifth-tier club Wealdstone, had to be substituted after 38 minutes when the team was a goal down.

Morocco are on a quest for only its second AFCON trophy title, 48 years after their triumph in Ethiopia. The team gained international recognition in Qatar in 2022, reaching the World Cup semi-finals and beating Spain and Portugal.

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Tanzania’s captain Mbwana Samatta hails Morocco’s class

Sports Brief reported when Taifa Stars striker, Mbwana Samatta, hailed the Atlas Lions as the best team in Africa following their loss.

Samatta admitted his team was second best and that there was little they could do.

Tanzania will hope to claim their first AFCON win when they face Zambia on Sunday, January 21, 2024.