After a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury sustained against Bayern Munich on 5 November, Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi finally made his long-awaited return to competitive football. The Moroccan international’s comeback coincided with a resounding victory for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
On Tuesday night at the electrifying Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco overpowered Zambia 3-0, securing their place in the tournament’s Round of 16. Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi was the star of the show, scoring twice, including a spectacular bicycle kick that left the crowd in awe. Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz added Morocco’s second goal, demonstrating excellent coordination with debutant Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli.
Morocco, the host nation of this AFCON edition, topped Group A with seven points from two wins and one draw. Group runners-up Mali also advanced to the knockout stage with three points from three draws.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Mali | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Zambia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Comoros | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
El Kaabi opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a perfectly executed diving header from a corner delivered by Azzedine Ounahi, leaving Zambian goalkeeper Willard Muwanza helpless. In the 27th minute, Diaz doubled Morocco’s lead, curling a precise shot into the net after evading El Kaabi inside the box. Five minutes into the second half, El Kaabi completed his brace with another acrobatic goal, a testament to his remarkable finishing and athleticism.
Hakimi entered the fray in the 64th minute as a substitute for Noussair Mazraoui. His arrival was greeted with thunderous applause from the home crowd, and he quickly displayed the energy and creativity that make him one of Africa’s most influential players. Coach Walid Regragui will no doubt be relieved to have his star right-back back in action ahead of the knockout stages.
As Group A winners, Morocco will face one of the best third-placed teams from Groups C, D, or E on 4 January in Rabat. Meanwhile, Mali advanced with five points despite a late scare following Amadou Haidara’s controversial red card against Comoros. Comoros finished third with two points and will now await further developments.
In Group B, Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola but still topped their group to secure knockout qualification, while South Africa edged Zimbabwe 3-2 to join them in the Round of 16.