CAN 2023: Morocco secures against Zambia and qualifies Côte d’Ivoire
For their last match in this group F, Morocco secured the first place against Zambia (1-0) while the DRC passes by obtaining the 0-0 against Tanzania.
After the elimination of Tunisia from the group stage on Wednesday in Group E, it remained only to know the outcome of Group F with the evening matches. Morocco faced Zambia with the objective of taking the first place and especially offer the qualification to Côte d’Ivoire as the best third.
For this, it was necessary to win against a Zambian team that needed only a draw to qualify. And the Atlas Lions, before the kick-off, were getting very bad news. The CAF decided to suspend Walid Regragui for 4 matches (2 of which were suspended) after his altercation with Mbemba.
The coach was in the stands, replaced by his assistant Rachid Benmahmoud. For the starting eleven, Romain Saiss and Selim Amallah were preserved just like Youssef En-Nesyri. El Kaabi started with Ismael Saibari and Yunis Abdelhamid. For the rest, the classic.
In a rather crazy atmosphere, with Moroccan and Ivorian fans coming in large numbers, Morocco clearly dominated the debates with a very active Sofiane Boufal on the left and an Azzedine Ounahi who feasted technically. But the Atlas Lions were not really able to secure dangerous opportunities.
Zambia proceeded against without creating danger. And finally, Morocco on a new overflow of Hakimi found the fault. The ball was badly returned by the Zambian goalkeeper and was picked up by Hakim Ziyech who opened the score. His first goal in a CAN. Galatasaray’s winger, along with the entire team, dedicated his goal to Walid Regragui in the stands.
