Morocco win hands Afcon hosts Ivory Coast reprieve

2 years ago 131

ARTICLE AD BOX

By Michael BeardmoreBBC Sport

Last updated on 7 minutes ago.From the section Football

Hakim Ziyech's first-half strike was his 22nd goal in 59 caps for Morocco

Morocco did host nation Ivory Coast a colossal favour by beating Zambia to send the Elephants into the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 by the back door.

Zambia needed a point from the Group F finale to deny the hosts the fourth and final qualification spot for the group stage's best third-placed teams.

But Hakim Ziyech slammed in from close range to send Zambia home, Ivory Coast through and help Morocco top the group.

The Atlas Lions will face South Africa in the knockout stages on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, who sacked boss Jean-Louis Gasset earlier on Wednesday after their disappointing group displays put the West Africans on the brink of an early exit, will meet Senegal in a mouth-watering last-16 tie on Monday.

For that, the Elephants owe a debt of gratitude to Walid Regragui's side for handing them a reprieve at the eleventh hour, ensuring another dramatic twist to end an enthralling, unpredictable set of group games.

Head coach Regragui was absent from the Morocco dugout against Zambia after being given a four-match ban by the Confederation of African Football for "post-match incidents" following Sunday's 1-1 draw with DR Congo.

Two games of his ban have been suspended for a year but the 48-year-old will also have to watch the last-16 meeting with Bafana Bafana from the stands, unless a Moroccan appeal succeeds.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Zambia

Formation 4-2-3-1

16Mulenga
26MwapeSubstituted forChamaat 83'minutes
13Sunzu
4Musonda
8Musonda
5Chaiwa
12Banda
14ChilufyaSubstituted forKangwaat 71'minutes
25MusondaSubstituted forSakalaat 71'minutes
9Banda
20Daka

Substitutes

3Chepeshi
6Sakala
7Kampamba
10Sakala
11Bwalya
15Kapumbu
17Chama
18Mwansa
21Chanda
22Kangwa
24Mafwenta
27Mphande

Morocco

Formation 4-1-4-1

1Bono
2HakimiBooked at 81mins
5Aguerd
13Abdelhamid
25Attiat-Allah
4S Amrabat
7ZiyechSubstituted forAdliat 45'minutes
8OunahiSubstituted forEl Khannoussat 84'minutes
11SaibariSubstituted forRichardsonat 68'minutes
17BoufalSubstituted forEzzalzouliat 68'minutes
20El KaabiSubstituted forTissoudaliat 73'minutes

Substitutes

9Tissoudali
10Harit
12Mohamedi
14El Azzouzi
16Ezzalzouli
18Abqar
19En-Nesyri
21Adli
23El Khannouss
24Richardson
26Riad
27Chibi

Live Text

Match ends, Zambia 0, Morocco 1.
Second Half ends, Zambia 0, Morocco 1.
Offside, Zambia. Fashion Sakala is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Tarik Tissoudali (Morocco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Achraf Hakimi.
Foul by Amir Richardson (Morocco).
Emmanuel Banda (Zambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Tarik Tissoudali (Morocco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Amir Richardson (Morocco) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Achraf Hakimi.
Attempt missed. Abde Ezzalzouli (Morocco) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Bilal El Khannouss following a fast break.
Foul by Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco).
Kings Kangwa (Zambia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Miguel Chaiwa (Zambia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Corner, Zambia. Conceded by Achraf Hakimi.
Corner, Zambia. Conceded by Yassine Bounou.
Attempt saved. Emmanuel Banda (Zambia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Patson Daka.
Foul by Nayef Aguerd (Morocco).
Fashion Sakala (Zambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Morocco. Conceded by Miguel Chaiwa.
Attempt blocked. Tarik Tissoudali (Morocco) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abde Ezzalzouli with a through ball.
Foul by Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco).