Zambia’s AFCON campaign came to a disappointing end as the Chipolopolo Boys were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by Morocco, bowing out of the tournament at the group stage.
Morocco started on the front foot and needed just nine minutes to break the deadlock.
Ayoub El Kaabi punished Zambia’s slow start, finishing clinically to give the Atlas Lions an early advantage.
The early goal unsettled Zambia, who struggled to contain Morocco’s movement and technical quality in midfield.
The pressure told again in the 26th minute when Brahim Díaz doubled Morocco’s lead.
The Real Madrid playmaker showed his class, finding space on the edge of the box before calmly slotting home to put Morocco firmly in control before the break.
Zambia tried to regroup in the second half and showed brief moments of intent going forward, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third once again proved costly.
Morocco capitalised on Zambia’s defensive lapses, with El Kaabi grabbing his second of the night in the 50th minute to effectively seal the contest.
Despite a spirited effort from the Chipolopolo Boys, Morocco comfortably managed the remainder of the match, seeing out the win with composure and control.
The result extends Zambia’s worrying AFCON record in open play. The Chipolopolo last won an AFCON match in open play at the 2012 tournament against Ghana.
Since then, Zambia have gone 14 matches without a win, recording 3 defeats and 11 draws, a statistic that underlines the team’s ongoing struggles on the continental stage.
As Morocco march on with confidence, Zambia return home with serious questions to answer as they look to rebuild and rediscover the winning formula that once made them champions of Africa.
⏰ FULL TIME | Zambia 0–3 Morocco
El Kaabi 9’, 50’, Brahim Díaz 26’
Zambia XI: Willard Mwanza – Mathews Banda (Sabobo Banda 63′), Kabaso Chongo (Eliya Mandanji 46′), Dominic Chanda, David Hamansenya – Benson Sakala, Joseph Liteta (Lameck Banda 46′), Miguel Chaiwa, Kings Kangwa (Wilson Chisala 78′) – Lubambo Musonda, Patson Daka (Given Kalusa 78′)
Zambia’s Afcon ended in the first 15 minutes of the Comoros match.
A great many influentional people in Zambian football were present at Afcon. Incredible Zambia has not won a match at Afcon in the last 13 attempts. The last match Zambia won was Mayuka scoring against Ghana. That is how long it has been. It’s time to get serious. Zambia needs a coach. A coach that is ambitious and hungry, that is self confident and has a vision for possession football.
Anything else is not good enough.
I really hope we have now heard the last of Fashion – Daka – Lubambo – Nsunzu – Chongo etc
# Keep the keeper & the three debutants. To these add U17 boys then we are good to go.
It’s time for the likes of Mapalo Sugar Sugar winger – Abel Nyirongo- Kalimina