AFCON Hosts Morocco Cruise Into Last 16 As Hakimi Returns
Hosts Morocco cruised to victory over Zambia to secure top spot in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they welcomed back captain Achraf Hakimi from injury.
The Atlas Lions, who only had a two-point cushion over second-placed Mali after taking four points from their first two games, started with intent in Rabat and Ayoub El Kaabi headed them in front in the ninth minute from a short corner routine.
Brahim Diaz made it 2-0 midway through the half, slotting in Abde Ezzalzouli’s low cross from the centre of the box for his third goal of the finals.
El Kaabi netted a brilliant bicycle kick five minutes into the second half to make it 3-0, with the goal ruled onside after a check by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Morocco, chasing their first Afcon title since 1976, had the luxury of introducing influential Paris St-Germain right-back Hakimi just after the hour mark following nearly two months on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
Hakimi almost got in on the act with nine minutes remaining but had a low effort palmed away by Chipolopolo goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.
Walid Regragui’s side will remain in the capital to face a third-placed finisher from Group C, D or E on Sunday, 4 January (16:00 GMT).
Results in Group A and Group B on Monday mean Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are all now guaranteed passage through to the last 16 before their respective final fixtures.
Zambia, meanwhile, exit the tournament and are now 13 games without a win at the Afcon finals – a run stretching all the way back to their semi-final victory over Ghana before their fairytale triumph in Gabon in 2012.
Hakimi Return Boosts Atlas Lions
Morocco were effectively through to the knockout stage after following up their opening 2-0 win over Comoros with a 1-1 draw with Mali on Friday but Regragui has come under fire from an expectant fanbase for the nature of their performances – and securing top spot could prove crucial if they are to become Afcon champions for just the second time.
All went to plan from the off and the return of reigning African Footballer of the Year Hakimi will give an extra boost to the Atlas Lions, who extended their unbeaten run to 23 games stretching back to their last-16 exit at the 2023 finals.
El Kaabi and Ezzalzouli had both gone close before the striker held off Zambia centre-back Kabaso Chonga inside the six-yard box and converted Azzedine Ounahi’s chipped cross.
With Real Madrid playmaker Diaz again a driving force, the second goal was only a matter of time away, and it arrived after Ounahi – the architect of many of Morocco’s best moments – released Ezzalzouli down the left.
Diaz came close to adding another before the break, stinging the palms of Mwanza, but El Kaabi added the third with his second overhead kick of the tournament.
Zambia had come into the contest on the back of draws against Mali and Comoros, and had hope of making the last 16 with at least a point.
But, with captain Fashion Sakala absent from the matchday squad altogether with illness, the Chipolopolo failed to force Yassine Bounou in the Morocco goal into a single save.
Zambia coach Moses Sichone, who served as assistant to Avram Grant before the former Chelsea boss was dismissed in October, will be left to reflect on a tournament in which his side only scored once.
The 2012 champions had finished ahead of holders Ivory Coast in their qualifying group, but their form has deserted them this calendar year with their only win in 2025 coming against Tanzania in 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying in October.
Source: BBC
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