Morocco has become the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the 2023 CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, following a resounding 5-1 victory over Ghana.
The second round of group stage matches commenced on Tuesday, featuring two Group A encounters. In the second match of the day, Morocco faced Ghana, and the host nation subjected the Black Meteors to a humiliating defeat.
By halftime, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco had established a commanding 3-1 lead and complete control over the game. In the second half, Ghana made efforts to regain momentum, but this left their defense exposed.
Taking full advantage of the situation, the hosts capitalized on counter-attacks and scored two more goals, securing a delightful 5-1 triumph by the end of the 90 minutes.
With this victory, Morocco secures a place in the semi-finals of the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. On the other hand, Ghana now faces the task of defeating Guinea on Friday in order to advance to the knockout stage of the U23 AFCON.