Hosts Morocco comfortably defeated Zambia 3-0 on Monday at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), ensuring their progression to the last 16 as winners of Group A. The victory was powered by Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored twice, and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, who netted his third consecutive goal of the tournament.
The match, played in front of 62,532 fans at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, saw Morocco dominate from the start. El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 9th minute following a clever assist from Azzedine Ounahi. Diaz then doubled Morocco’s lead before halftime after a well-worked team move involving Ounahi and Abde Ezzalzouli. Six minutes into the second half, El Kaabi completed his brace with an overhead kick, initially ruled offside but later awarded after a VAR review.
Morocco finished the group stage with two wins and a draw, accumulating seven points to top Group A. Mali, with a third consecutive draw against Comoros, claimed the second spot. Morocco will now stay in Rabat for their last-16 clash against one of the best third-placed teams on Sunday, January 4.
The match also marked the return of captain Achraf Hakimi, the African Player of the Year, who came on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since an ankle injury in early November. Hakimi nearly scored late in the game but was denied by Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.
Morocco’s win continued to highlight their dominance in African football, maintaining their reputation as the continent’s highest-ranked team. By contrast, Zambia, ranked 91st, faced a tough challenge and were unable to secure the win they needed to advance.
