Zambia vs Morocco: No margin for error in final group stage game
Zambia: Will Chipolopolo's resilience pay off once again?
Zambia's hopes of progressing to the 2025 African Cup of Nations knockout stages are still alive. The Southern African nation will have to do the impossible to achieve this feat, and that's outplaying Morocco, the favorites of Group A.
Indeed, Chipolopolo are about to huff and puff this Monday. The side they are about to face has dominated them over the past meetings. Taking into account their AFCON meetings only, they've yet to win in three games, recording two losses and one draw. Their last meeting was in the 2023 edition with Hakimi Ziyech, netting the only goal to condemn them to a 1-0 defeat in the group stages (Group F).
Putting that aside, Zambia's form in the current edition commands respect. Determination and a fighting spirit currently see them with two points to their name after two games. Can they snatch another point this time against the Atlas Lions? Find out what our experts have to say in our Zambia vs Morocco prediction for more insights and analysis on the match.
In the opening match, a Patson Daka second-half stoppage-time equalizer was enough to hold Mali to a 1-1 draw. At the Stade Mohamed V, a point was shared in a frustrating goalless draw against Comoros. There was one clear concern stemming from their performance in that game. Of the ten shots registered at goal, not even one was able to find the target, highlighting their lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Zambia AFCON facts:
- Zambia have gone 11 consecutive group stage games without a win.
- Zambia have drawn ten of their last 12 AFCON matches.
- Zambia's last win in AFCON was in the 2012 semi-final when they defeated Ghana 1-0.
Morocco: The Atlas Lions are hoping to avoid a historic exit in the group stages
The expectation for Morocco as the host nation in the 2025 African Cup of Nations was for them to dominate the group stages. As the pre-tournament favorites, maintaining a 100% record in the group stages was the perfect opportunity for them to set the standard for the rest of the teams in this competition.
However, a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mali, where they clearly had the advantage of dominating the match and securing a comfortable spoiled such plans. That outcome underscored their 2-0 victory over Comoros in the opening group stage game and ended an 18-match winning streak.
Caution should be advised by the Atlas Lions in their final group stage game, as failure to secure a favorable outcome here, combined with unfavorable results elsewhere, could see them miss out on progressing to the knockout stages. The last time they failed to do so was in 2015.
The Real Madrid star, Brahim Diaz, has been a breath of fresh air in this tournament. Diaz has scored in two successive AFCON group stage games. This makes him the first Moroccan player to do so since Houssine Kharja in 2012. He could also etch his name in the history books by becoming the first player to score in three successive AFCON matches for the first time since Ahmed Faras in 1976.
Morocco AFCON facts:
- Morocco have never lost a final group stage game since 2008.
- Morocco are unbeaten in their last 13 AFCON group stage games
- Morocco are one match away from progressing to the AFCON knockout stages for the 11th time in their history.
