The Moroccan national football team delivered a commanding performance on Monday night, securing their place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations as group winners. The Atlas Lions defeated Zambia 3-0 in a decisive Group A clash at a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
El Kaabi and Diaz Fire Morocco to Victory
Striker Ayoub El Kaabi was the star of the show, scoring twice to lead the charge for the hosts. The Olympiakos forward opened the scoring early, finding the net after just nine minutes. He connected with a perfectly delivered ball from Azzedine Ounahi, nodding home at the back post to send the 62,532 fans into a frenzy.
The second goal was a product of beautiful team play. Just before the half-hour mark, another incisive pass from the influential Ounahi sliced open the Zambian defence. Abde Ezzalzouli raced onto it and delivered a low cross, which was expertly finished by Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz. This marked Diaz's third goal in as many matches at the tournament.
Sealing the Deal and a Captain's Return
Morocco put the result beyond any doubt six minutes into the second half. El Kaabi demonstrated sharp movement to beat the offside trap and met another superb Ounahi assist with a spectacular overhead kick. The goal was initially disallowed for offside but was correctly awarded after a VAR review.
The comfortable evening was further sweetened by the return of captain Achraf Hakimi. The African Player of the Year, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury since early November, came on as a 64th-minute substitute to a massive ovation. He nearly scored late on, only to be denied by a fine save from Zambia's Willard Mwanza.
Group Standings and Road Ahead
With this victory, Morocco concluded the group stage with an impressive seven points from two wins and a draw. This confirmed their top position in Group A. Mali finished as runners-up after playing out a 0-0 draw with Comoros, their third consecutive stalemate in the tournament.
The result means Walid Regragui's side will enjoy the significant advantage of remaining in Rabat for their last-16 match. They are scheduled to play on Sunday, January 4, against one of the best third-placed teams from other groups.
For Zambia, the defeat was a bitter end to their campaign. Needing a win to guarantee progression, the 2012 champions were outclassed by an opponent ranked 80 places above them in the FIFA standings. The Copper Bullets have now failed to secure a single AFCON victory since their title triumph over a decade ago.
Morocco's performance was a strong response after their world-record 19-match winning streak was snapped in a 1-1 draw with Mali. They reasserted their status as Africa's top-ranked team with a display of quality and control, setting a formidable tone for the knockout rounds.
