Morocco asserts its authority and secures top spot in Group A
In a Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium filled with anticipation, Morocco defeated Zambia 3-0 to seal first place in Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The home side dominated from the start: Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring with a header from a corner, and shortly afterwards Brahim Díaz extended the lead with a precise shot from inside the area. In the second half, El Kaabi sealed the victory with a spectacular bicycle kick, his second of the tournament, to make it 3-0.
Coach Walid Regragui praised his team's performance: ‘We showed character and determination in a key match. This group is united and ready for what lies ahead.’
For his part, Brahim Díaz highlighted the team's confidence: ‘Every ball counts and we are focused on improving with every game.’ The victory confirms Morocco as group leaders and places them as one of the favourites for the round of 16.
Decisive day in the group stage
The third and final day of the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations saw several teams qualify and others eliminated.
In Group A, Morocco confirmed its favouritism by beating Zambia 3-0, securing first place with seven points. Mali drew 0-0 with Comoros and took second place, while Zambia and Comoros were eliminated.
In Group B, Egypt sealed their passage as leaders after drawing 0-0 with Angola, while South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3-2 to take second place in the group. Angola and Zimbabwe were knocked out of the competition.
With these results, the teams that have mathematically advanced to the round of 16 are Morocco, Mali, Egypt and South Africa. In addition, some third-place teams from other groups will still have a chance to qualify, depending on the final results.
The knockout stage promises evenly matched contests, with Morocco showing its superiority as host and Egypt and South Africa standing out as strong contenders to advance beyond this round.