Morocco delivered a commanding performance to defeat Zambia 3–0 and seal qualification at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, confirming their credentials as one of the tournament favorites in front of a vibrant home crowd.
The Lions of the Atlas took control from the opening minutes, imposing a high tempo and pinning Zambia deep in their own half.
Their early dominance was rewarded in the 9th minute when Azzedine Ounahi swung in a precise corner and Ayoub El Kaabi rose highest to head home the opener.
Morocco continued to press, with Abde Ezzalzouli and Brahim Diaz causing constant problems between the lines. Diaz doubled the lead in the 27th minute, arriving late in the box to finish calmly with his left foot after a cut back from the left flank.
The first half was largely one sided, with Morocco enjoying nearly 70 percent possession and restricting Zambia to rare, harmless forays forward.
In the 51st minute, Ounahi delivered another pinpoint cross, and El Kaabi produced a spectacular acrobatic overhead kick to make it 3–0. Although the assistant referee initially flagged for offside, a VAR review confirmed the goal, allowing El Kaabi to claim his third goal of the tournament and his second overhead kick of the competition.
Even with a comfortable lead, Morocco kept pushing. Substitute Achraf Hakimi tested the Zambian goalkeeper with a free kick and later came close to adding a fourth, while Youssef En Nesyri added physical presence up front.
Zambia attempted to respond late on but were comfortably contained by a well organized Moroccan defense.
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