CAF U-17 AFCON: Morocco and Zambia Play Out Goalless Draw in Group A

Zambia and Morocco played out a tense goalless draw in their second Group A match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The result leaves both teams joint-top of Group A with four points each, setting up a decisive final round of group-stage matches.

Despite Morocco coming into the fixture on the back of a dominant 5-0 win over Uganda, the young Chipolopolo stood firm, producing a solid defensive display to frustrate their North African opponents. Zambia nearly snatched a late winner but had to settle for a point in what was a closely contested battle.

Defensive Battle in First Half

The opening 45 minutes saw both teams take a cautious approach, with neither side willing to commit too many players forward. Morocco controlled possession, while Zambia remained well-organized defensively, closing down spaces and limiting clear-cut chances.

Zambia’s disciplined approach ensured that Nabil Baha’s Moroccan side struggled to create openings, as the young Chipolopolo remained compact and patient in their defensive shape. Both goalkeepers had little to do in the first half, with the game being largely played in the midfield.

Second Half Comes to Life with Red Card Drama

After the break, the game saw more attacking intent, with Morocco pushing forward in search of a breakthrough. Zambia, however, continued to pose a threat on the counter, with Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu’s pace causing problems for the Moroccan defense.

The defining moment of the match came in the 75th minute when Morocco’s Hamza Mouhadi was sent off after a VAR review for a reckless challenge on Chipelu. The red card swung the momentum in Zambia’s favor, as they pushed for a late winner with their numerical advantage.

In stoppage time, substitute Gabriel Phiri had a golden opportunity to win it for Zambia but saw his effort narrowly miss the target (90+5’). Morocco also had late chances, with Ahmed Mouhoub blasting over the bar and Ilies Belmokhtar failing to capitalize in the dying moments (90+7’).

Group A Standings and What’s Next

With the draw, Zambia and Morocco both sit on four points, leading the group. Uganda, after their 3-0 win over Tanzania, is just behind them with three points, while Tanzania is bottom with zero points after two consecutive defeats.

The final round of matches will determine who progresses to the knockout stages:

• Morocco will take on Tanzania on Sunday, looking to secure qualification with a win.

• Zambia faces Uganda in a crucial encounter, where a win will guarantee them a spot in the quarterfinals.

Conclusion

Despite failing to find the net, Zambia will take confidence from their solid performance against one of the tournament’s favorites. Their defensive resilience and ability to compete with Morocco show their readiness for the final group-stage battle against Uganda.

With a ticket to the quarterfinals and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup at stake, the young Chipolopolo must now focus on getting the job done against Uganda to secure their place in the knockout rounds.