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Mazraoui’s Morocco top group at AFCON

by
Mikey Partington
Tuesday 30 December 2025 13:08

Noussair Mazraoui helped Morocco beat Zambia 3-0 on Monday, a result which sees the Manchester United defender’s country progress to the Africa Cup of Nations knockouts as group winners.

Mazraoui played 64 minutes for the tournament hosts in their third and final Group A fixture, before being replaced by African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, who was making his comeback after nearly two months out with an ankle problem.

That was a boost for the Atlas Lions ahead of their last-16 tie on Sunday (4 January, 16:00 GMT kick-off), when they will face one of the four best third-place finishers, whose identity is still to be confirmed.

Watch Amad's goal against Mbeumo's Cameroon

 Article

The United team-mates met at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night, with our no.16 scoring a worldie.

Morocco had taken four points from their opening two games, after a 2-0 win over Comoros and a 1-1 draw with Mali, before continuing their pursuit of a first AFCON title since 1976 with a comprehensive victory over Zambia in Rabat.

A smart set-piece routine had Mazraoui and co ahead inside nine minutes, when a short corner was played to Azzedine Ounahi, whose cross from the right was headed in by Ayoub El Kaabi.

The latter plays for PSV and was on target again later in the second half, but not before Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz made it 2-0 after 27 minutes, with a sweeping first-time finish.

Diaz and El Kaabi’s goals on the night mean they now sit joint-top of the scoring charts at the tournament on three apiece, alongside former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, of Algeria.

Morocco are now waiting to find out their opponents in the first knockout round but know that the weekend’s tie will take place in Rabat, the nation's capital, where they have played their three games to this point.

 

WHAT’S COMING UP AT AFCON?

Before then, Mazraoui’s United team-mates Amad and Bryan Mbeumo will complete their Group F campaigns with Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively.

After the two nations drew 1-1 on Sunday, they both have four points each meaning top spot is all to play for entering the group’s third and final round of games, to be played at 19:00 GMT tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ivory Coast face Gabon, while Cameroon play Mozambique, a side who have three points and also remain in contention to advance as leaders of the pack.

Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique were all guaranteed qualification for the last 16 after Monday’s results elsewhere in the competition.

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