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Round three of the African Cup of Nations group stage brought clarity and celebration in Morocco as Groups A and B concluded with decisive results and the focus turned to the finals.
Hosts Morocco fought back brilliantly after a draw in their previous match, defeating Zambia 3-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat and finishing top of Group A. Ayub El Kaabi stole the show with two goals, including a spectacular overhead kick that thrilled the stadium, while Brahim Dias also found the back of the net. Morocco are currently scheduled to play all of their knockout matches in Rabat, with fans dreaming of lifting the trophy on home soil.
Despite a goalless draw with Comoros, Mali finished second in their group and joined the hosts in the last 16.
In Group B, Egypt rested key players such as Mohamed Salah and was held to a draw by Angola, but they still topped the group. South Africa qualified in second place with a dramatic 3-2 win over Zimbabwe, while Angola finished third and will have to wait to see if they will advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Off the pitch, AFCON 2025 will continue to showcase Morocco’s vibrant atmosphere, with fan zones, live entertainment and packed squares enlivening the tournament.
Groups A and B are complete, with 4 teams advancing directly, 2 teams eliminated, and the remaining 2 teams waiting anxiously. As the finals approach, there is no margin for error and competition for the biggest prize in African football gets into full swing.
The program continues on Tuesday with the following matches:
- Uganda vs Nigeria
- Tanzania vs Tunisia
- Botswana vs Democratic Republic of Congo
- Benin vs Senegal