The Morocco forward Ayoub El Kaabi netted a double and the midfield maestro Brahim Díaz added another as the Africa Cup of Nations hosts turned in a convincing performance in outclassing Zambia 3-0 on Monday to top Group A.
El Kaabi powered home an early headed goal and then scored with one of his trademark bicycle kicks while Díaz netted for the third successive game as Morocco swept their opponents aside to finish on seven points, ahead of second-placed Mali on three.
After a timid start to the tournament, with a nervy opening game win against tiny Comoros and then an uninspiring 1-1 draw with Mali on Friday, Morocco finally looked like the favourites that many have made them for the 24-team tournament.
Defeat meant Zambia were eliminated, as they finished bottom of the group with two points, behind Comoros on goal difference.
Achraf Hakimi, recently crowned African footballer of the year, came on to great acclaim as a 64th-minute substitute and the Morocco captain had a beaming smile on his face in his first outing since suffering an ankle injury playing in the Champions League almost eight weeks ago.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back was inches away from a fairytale goal in the 81st minute as a stabbed effort with the outside of the boot looked bound for the net, only for Willard Mwanza to make a full-stretch save.
Mali and Comoros played to a tepid 0-0 draw in their simultaneous Group A fixture in Casablanca, a result that sends the former into the last 16 and eliminates their opponents. Mali will be without Amadou Haidara for the next round after he received a late red card for a dangerous challenge.
Oswin Appollis scored a penalty in the final 10 minutes to earn South Africa a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakech and seal second spot in Group B, dumping their southern African rivals out of the tournament.
South Africa finish with six points in the group, one behind Egypt. Both those advance to the last 16 as Angola, on two points, finish in third and face an anxious wait to see if that is enough as one of the four best third-placed sides.
South Africa led three times thanks to a first international goal from Tshepang Moremi, as well as strikes from Lyle Foster and Appollis, but the coach, Hugo Broos, will be concerned by how open his side were at times at the back.
Tawanda Maswanhise scored an excellent first equaliser for Zimbabwe and they also profited from an Aubrey Modiba own goal, but missed several other chances and should have earned at least a draw.
South Africa led after seven minutes as Moremi’s shot took a wicked deflection off Divine Lunga and looped into the net. Zimbabwe hit back in the 19th minute with a goal that will go down as one of the best of the tournament as Maswanhise picked up the ball 35 yards out and danced past two defenders before drilling a low shot past Ronwen Williams.
But South Africa were back in front five minutes after the break when Lunga’s back header to his goalkeeper, Washington Arubi, allowed Foster to sneak in ahead and nod the ball into the net. Zimbabwe equalised again in the 73rd minute as Maswanhise’s low shot was saved by Williams, but the ball deflected on to Modiba and into the net for an own goal.
South Africa were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes remaining when the midfielder Marvelous Nakamba made a goalkeeper-style diving save and handled a shot that appeared to be going wide. Appollis converted from the spot and Zimbabwe’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages at the sixth attempt were dashed.
Egypt rested all their key players but still kept up their unbeaten run, drawing 0-0 with Angola. Egypt had already confirmed top spot in the group before kick-off, allowing them the luxury of making 11 changes from their 1-0 win against South Africa on Friday, and giving players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush the day off.
Angola finished third in the group but their two-point haul means they have an anxious wait and will only advance if Tanzania and Uganda are beaten in their final Group C matches on Tuesday.
Angola had the better of the chances to win the game with Chico Banza’s 42nd-minute effort coming closest. He played a quick one-two with his fellow forward Mabululu and held off two defenders but put his effort past the post.
