Morocco whips Zambia 3-0 to secure Group A top spot
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 hosts Morocco cruised to victory over Zambia to secure top spot in Group A as they welcomed back captain Achraf Hakimi from injury.
The Atlas Lions, who held only a two-point cushion over second-placed Mali after taking four points from their first two games, started with intent in Rabat. 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 at 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 Saint-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 his low effort was 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, January 4.
Results in Group A and Group B on Monday mean Benin, Sudan, and Mozambique are all now guaranteed passage through to the last 16 ahead of their respective final fixtures.
Zambia, meanwhile, exit the tournament and are now 13 games without a win at the AFCON finals — a run stretching back to their semi-final victory over Ghana before their fairytale triumph in Gabon in 2012.
