By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@CAFonline.
Hosts Morocco secured a convincing 3–0 win over Zambia in their final Group A match at AFCON 2025, finishing top of the group with 7 points.
The Atlas Lions got off to a flying start, with Ayoub El Kaabi opening the scoring in the 10th minute with a header from a corner. Morocco quickly doubled their lead when Brahim Díaz slotted home with his left foot after a clever assist from Ezzalzouli.
Morocco, chasing their first Afcon title since 1976, had the luxury of introducing influential Paris St-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi just after the hour mark following nearly two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
Hakimi almost got in on the act with nine minutes remaining but had a low effort 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, 4 January (16:00 GMT).
Meanwhile Mali and Comoros played to a tepid 0-0 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A fixture in Casablanca on Monday, a result that sends the Malians into the last 16 and eliminates their rivals from the tournament.
Mali finish second in Group A with three points having drawn all their matches, leaving them behind pool winners Morocco.
Comoros finish in third with two points, but their -2 goal-difference means they will not be one of the four best third-place finishers that advance to the knockout stage.
Mali will face the runner-up in Group C in the next round, with their opponents to be revealed at the completion of that pool on Tuesday, but almost certain to be Tunisia.
Results in Group A and Group B on Monday mean Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are all now guaranteed passage through to the last 16 before their respective final fixtures.