El Kaabi's Double Powers Morocco to Dominant Victory

RABAT, MOROCCO — The Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah witnessed a masterclass in attacking football as Morocco dismantled Zambia 3-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations encounter. The Atlas Lions, enjoying the majority of possession at 57%, turned territorial dominance into a clinical victory that never looked in doubt after Ayoub El Kaabi's early opener set the tone for the evening.

The rout began in just the ninth minute when El Kaabi rose highest to meet Azzedine Ounahi's pinpoint cross following a corner, powering a header from very close range into the bottom left corner. The Zambian defense, already stretched, found no respite as Morocco's attacking trident of El Kaabi, Brahim Díaz, and Abde Ezzalzouli combined with devastating effect. The second arrived in the 27th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Díaz, who latched onto Ezzalzouli's assist and curled a sublime left-footed effort from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner, leaving goalkeeper Willard Mwanza with no chance. Five minutes into the second half, El Kaabi completed his brace in controversial fashion, slotting home from close range after Ounahi's set-piece delivery, though only after VAR confirmed the goal's legitimacy.

Morocco's midfield axis of Azzedine Ounahi and Ismael Saibari controlled proceedings throughout, dictating tempo and creating space for the attacking players to exploit. Noussair Mazraoui and Adam Masina provided width and defensive solidity, while Nayef Aguerd marshalled the backline with authority. Zambia's Patson Daka and Kings Kangwa struggled to find any rhythm against Morocco's organized defensive structure, with the visitors managing zero shots on target despite their best efforts. Willard Mwanza in the Zambian goal was kept busy throughout, making six saves to prevent an even more emphatic scoreline, while his defenders David Hamansenya, Eliya Mandanji, and Miguel Chaiwa battled valiantly but were ultimately overwhelmed.

Morocco launched 19 shots at goal compared to Zambia's five, with nine of those efforts forcing Mwanza into action. The Atlas Lions' clinical edge in the final third proved the difference, converting three of their nine shots on target while Zambia failed to register a single effort that troubled the Moroccan goalkeeper. The physical nature of the contest saw Zambia commit 23 fouls to Morocco's 12, resulting in four yellow cards for the visitors compared to just one for the hosts, with Eliya Mandanji and David Hamansenya both cautioned for persistent fouling.

The turning point came with El Kaabi's second goal early in the second half, which effectively killed the contest as a competitive spectacle. Zambia's substitutions—bringing on Joseph Sabobo for the injured Mathews Banda and later Wilson Chisala and Given Kalusa—failed to stem the tide. Morocco's own changes, introducing Achraf Hakimi, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and Ilias Akhomach, maintained their attacking intensity, with Hakimi forcing two late saves from the overworked Mwanza.