By Bola Yapa Zed Sports Desk | 30th December 2025
Zambia’s Africa Cup of Nations journey came to a disappointing conclusion on Wednesday night as the Chipolopolo Boys were convincingly beaten 3–0 by Morocco, bowing out of the tournament at the group stage. Facing one of Africa’s most technically gifted sides, Zambia struggled to cope with Morocco’s intensity, movement, and clinical finishing in a result that once again highlights the national team’s ongoing struggles at AFCON.
Morocco Strike Early to Set the Tone
Morocco wasted no time asserting their authority, breaking the deadlock inside nine minutes. Ayoub El Kaabi capitalised on Zambia’s slow start, finishing clinically to hand the Atlas Lions an early lead. The goal immediately unsettled the Chipolopolo, who found it difficult to match Morocco’s tempo and precision, particularly in midfield where the North Africans dictated play with ease.
Díaz Doubles the Advantage Before the Break
The pressure eventually told again in the 26th minute when Brahim Díaz doubled Morocco’s advantage. The Real Madrid playmaker demonstrated his quality by finding space on the edge of the box before calmly slotting past the Zambian goalkeeper. At 2–0 down before half-time, Zambia faced an uphill battle against a side brimming with confidence and control.
El Kaabi Seals the Contest
Zambia attempted to regroup after the interval and showed brief attacking intent, but their familiar lack of cutting edge in the final third continued to undermine their efforts. Morocco punished defensive lapses once more in the 50th minute, with El Kaabi grabbing his second goal of the night to effectively seal the contest. From there, Morocco managed the game comfortably, seeing out the win with composure.
AFCON Record Raises Serious Concerns
Beyond the defeat itself, the result further extends Zambia’s worrying AFCON record in open play. The Chipolopolo last won an AFCON match in open play at the 2012 tournament against Ghana. Since then, Zambia have gone 14 matches without a win, recording 11 draws and three defeats. This statistic underlines the scale of the challenge facing the technical bench as the team seeks to regain its competitive edge on the continental stage.
Match Details
FULL TIME: Zambia 0–3 Morocco
Goals: El Kaabi 9’, 50’, Brahim Díaz 26’
Zambia XI:
Willard Mwanza – Mathews Banda (Sabobo Banda 63′), Kabaso Chongo (Eliya Mandanji 46′), Dominic Chanda, David Hamansenya – Benson Sakala, Joseph Liteta (Lameck Banda 46′), Miguel Chaiwa, Kings Kangwa (Wilson Chisala 78′) – Lubambo Musonda, Patson Daka (Given Kalusa 78′)
Conclusion
As Morocco march on in the tournament with confidence, Zambia return home with serious questions to answer. Rebuilding belief, improving attacking efficiency, and rediscovering the identity that once made the Chipolopolo champions of Africa will be crucial if future AFCON campaigns are to deliver better outcomes.
