Morocco secured a 2-0 win over Liberia in a Group K 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Monday night.
The Atlas Lions were setting up the pace of the game in the opening exchanges and Romain Assis came close to giving them the lead in the 19th minute with a towering header in the box that came off the post.
Ayoub El Kaabi had a chance to break the deadlock for Vahid Halilhodžić’s charges just after the half-hour mark after receiving a pass with space in the box but his curling strike was saved by goalkeeper Tommy Songo.
Peter Butler’s men were growing in the game in the closing phase of the first stanza, with threatening counter-attacks but talisman Kpah Sherman was tightly marked and the sides went to the half-time break deadlocked.
Liberia were a much better side after the break, with Allen Njie in particular taking the game to Morocco and the FC Aalau midfielder tested shot-stopper Yassine Bounou for the first time in the 50th minute with a free-kick and again two minutes later, but the Moroccan smothered both efforts.
Three minutes later, Morocco took the lead when Faycal Fajr converted from the penalty spot after Amine Harit’s quick feet inside the box led to a penalty after he was hacked down.
Morocco doubled their lead in the 57th minute courtesy of Youssef En-Nesyr who easily connected Azzedine Ounahi before sending a beautiful finish in the back of the net with his left foot.
Joachim Adukor had a chance to pull one back in the 75th minute, the central midfielder got beyond the Morocco defence before firing a low effort straight at Bounou.
However, that was as good as it got for the Lone Star, as the Atlas Lions saw out the rest of the match with ease.
Morocco have now maintained their top spot in Group K with 6 points, while Liberia will have to beat South Africa when qualification action returns in September in order have no mathematical chance of qualifying for Ivory Coast next year.
