Afcon Report Morocco Make Short Work Of Zambia In Rabat

Morocco qualified for the round of 16 as 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts after they recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Monday. Walid Regraguis side dominated from start to finish and hit the front through Ayoub El Kaabi in the ninth minute before the impressive Brahim Diaz doubled their lead on 27 minutes. El Kaabi then sealed the convincing win with an acrobatic effort early in the second half as the Copper Bullets limped out of the tournament after a poor showing in Rabat. Morocco went on the attack from the get-go and they almost broke the deadlock on six minutes when Abde Ezzalzouli drove his way into the box from the left and unleashed a shot that was well saved by Willard Mwanza. Zambia were caught flat-footed just three minutes later and it cost them dearly as a short corner was dinked in by Azzedine Ounahi towards El Kaabi, who got in between three defenders to head home past Mwanza. Diaz was a constant threat for the North Africans and he fired a warning shot midway through the first half after the Copper Bullets lost possession on the edge of their own box and the Real Madrid winger flashed the ball across the face of goal. The second goal wasnt long in coming as Diaz latched onto a diagonal pass from Ezzalzouli inside the area and swept a first-time shot into the back of the net on 27 minutes. Diaz was presented with another two chances in the closing stages of the first half, but he cannot stab the ball home after it was played across the face of goal on 38 minutes before he forced Mwanza into a superb save in stoppage time following some quick footwork that left two defenders for dead. Moses Sichones side finally showed signs of life in the early stages of the second half, with Patson Daka shooting wide of the right post on 49 minutes following good work from Lameck Banda to pick him out inside the box. But the Atlas Lions struck again moments later as El Kaabi scored with a sensational overhead-kick from Ounahis cross. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was overturned upon a VAR review. Mwanza was all that was standing between Morocco and a complete rout after the goalkeeper made another outstanding save to turn Ezzalzoulis shot behind for a corner. Mwanza produced more heroics on 81 minutes to save Achraf Hakimis low shot at full stretch and he reacted smartly to deny the PSG right-back on the rebound. Given Kalusa attempted to put smiles on the faces of the Zambian fans when he lined up a shot from an angle that hit the side-netting in stoppage time after being teed up on the edge of the box. Zambia 0 0 Morocco 1 3 El Kaabi 9, 50, Diaz 27