MATCH STATS: Zambia vs Morocco – TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Group A

The fixture will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off at 20h00 local time (19h00 GMT).

This will be the fourth Africa Cup of Nations meeting between Zambia and Morocco.

Of their previous three AFCON meetings, Morocco have recorded two wins, with the other match ending in a draw.

All three previous encounters — in 1986, 1998 and 2023 — were contested at the group stage.

The teams first met at the 1986 AFCON in their final Group B match, where Morocco secured a must-win 1–0 victory courtesy of a Jones Chilengi own goal. Morocco progressed as group runners-up behind Cameroon.

Their Group D opening match at the 1998 AFCON ended in a 1–1 draw. Morocco took the lead in the 36th minute through Ahmed Bahja, before Tenant Chilumba equalised for Zambia in the 87th minute. Morocco went on to progress as group winners ahead of Egypt.

Their most recent AFCON meeting came at the 2023 edition, where Morocco won their final group game 1–0 to advance as Group F winners alongside DR Congo. Hakim Ziyech scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute.

On two previous occasions when the sides have met in AFCON group stages, a finalist has emerged from their group. In 1986, Cameroon were paired with them and finished as runners-up, while in 1998 Egypt advanced from the same group and went on to win the title.

Overall, Zambia and Morocco have met 22 times. Morocco have dominated the fixture with 14 wins, while Zambia have recorded six victories, with two matches ending in draws.

Morocco have won the last five meetings between the two nations.

Zambia’s most recent victory over Morocco was a 3–2 win in a friendly match played on 16 June 2019 in Marrakech.

Morocco have lost just one of their last 12 matches against Zambia (W9 D2).

Their most recent meeting came on 8 September 2025 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, with Morocco winning 2–0 in Ndola through goals from Youssef En-Nesyri in the 7th minute and Hamza Igamane in the 47th minute. Morocco went on to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of Zambia.

This will be Zambia’s fifth AFCON match against a host nation. Zambia’s record against AFCON hosts: P4 W1 D0 L3

All four previous matches against hosts have produced a winner, Zambia have scored in all four previous matches against AFCON hosts

Zambia lost their first three encounters against hosts: Egypt 3–1 at the group stage in 1974; Ghana 2–1 at the group stage in 1978; Libya 2–1 in the semi-finals in 1982

Their most recent match against a host came in 2012, when they defeated Equatorial Guinea 1–0 in their final group game.

This is the fourth time Zambia have been drawn in the same group as a host. In 1974 and 2012 they progressed alongside hosts Egypt and Equatorial Guinea respectively, while in 1978 Ghana advanced and Zambia were eliminated at the group stage.

Whenever Zambia have faced a host at AFCON, one of the teams has gone on to reach the final: Zambia finished runners-up in 1974, Ghana won the title in 1978, Libya were runners-up in 1982, and Zambia were crowned champions in 2012.

This is the third time Zambia have faced a North African host, having previously lost to Egypt in 1974 and Libya in 1982.

On three of the previous four occasions when meeting an AFCON host, Zambia have finished on the podium — champions in 2012, runners-up in 1974, and third place in 1982.

Zambia: P22 W6 D2 L14 GF19 GA31 GD-12

Morocco: P22 W14 D2 L6 GF31 GA19 GD+12

Zambia: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF1 GA3 GD-2

Morocco: P3 W2 D1 L0 GF3 GA1 GD+2

Zambia 0 Morocco 1 (Chilengi o.g. 18’)

Morocco 1 (Bahja 37’) Zambia 1 (Chilumba 87’)

Zambia 0 Morocco 1 (Ziyech 37’)

• Remain winless at AFCON 2025, having drawn both matches against Mali and Comoros.

• Are now 12 matches without a win at AFCON (D10 L2).

• Have gone 11 matches without a win since becoming champions, the longest such run by any team after lifting the trophy. Their victory in the 2012 final came on penalties.

• Their last AFCON win was the 2012 semi-final against Ghana.

• Are now winless in 11 consecutive AFCON group matches (D9 L2).

• Last group-stage victory came in their final group match of 2012 against Equatorial Guinea.

• Have been eliminated at the group stage in their last three appearances (2013, 2015, 2023).

• Failure to win would mark a third successive AFCON finals without a victory.

• A draw would see all three group matches end level for the first time since 2013.

• Record in final group matches: P18 W8 D6 L4.

• Have won their final group match eight times (1974, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2012).

• Are winless in their last three final group matches (D2 L1).

• Last won a final group match in 2012 against Equatorial Guinea.

• Victory would see them reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2013.

• Would feature in the round of 16 for the first time.

• Last reached the knockout rounds in 2012.

• Progression would mark their ninth appearance in the knockout stages.

• Elimination would mean four successive group-stage exits for the second time.

• Would be the 11th group-stage exit in 20 tournament appearances.

• Have drawn 10 of their last 12 AFCON matches (L2).

• Failed to score in two of their last three AFCON matches.

• Attempted 10 shots against Comoros, none on target.

• Kings Kangwa attempted 72 passes against Comoros, the most by a Zambian player at AFCON 2025.

• Contested 21 aerial duels against Comoros, winning just 38%.

• At 20 years and 140 days, David Simukonda became Zambia’s youngest AFCON starter since at least 2010.

• Unbeaten in their first two matches, defeating Comoros and drawing with Mali.

• Took the lead against Mali before the match ended in a 1–1 draw.

• Had won 18 consecutive matches under Walid Regragui prior to the draw with Mali.

• Are unbeaten in their last 21 matches with Regragui in charge (W19 D2).

• Their last defeat came against South Africa in the round of 16 at AFCON 2023.

• The draw against Mali ended a run of 10 consecutive clean sheets under Regragui.

• Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had gone 1005 minutes without conceding before Mali’s equaliser.

• Have never lost a group match at AFCON or the FIFA World Cup under Regragui.

• Regragui was suspended when Morocco defeated Zambia at AFCON 2023.

• Progression would see Morocco advance from the group stage in all three major tournaments under Regragui.

• Would mark a fifth consecutive tournament reaching the knockout stages.

• Last group-stage elimination came in 2015.

• Would move beyond the group stage for the 11th time in AFCON history.

• Are unbeaten in 13 consecutive AFCON group matches (W10 D3).

• Currently on their longest unbeaten run in AFCON group-stage history.

• Have not lost their final group match in their last six AFCON appearances (W4 D2).

• Their four wins in those matches were all 1–0 victories.

• Last lost a final group match in 2008 against Ghana.

• Brahim Díaz has scored in both matches, the first Moroccan to do so since Houssine Kharja in 2012.

• A goal would see Díaz become the first Moroccan to score in three consecutive AFCON matches since Ahmed Faras in 1976.

• Díaz and Ismael Saibari attempted four shots each against Mali.

• Morocco have attempted 1,116 passes with an 88% accuracy rate.

• Nayef Aguerd has completed 148 passes across the two matches.

• Noussair Mazraoui won all four tackles he attempted against Mali.

• Azzedine Ounahi recorded 12 final-third entries against Mali, the most in the match.