Hosts Morocco made a clear statement in Rabat. With a 3-0 win over Zambia at the Complexe Sportif Moulay Abdellah, the Atlas Lions finished top of AFCON 2025 Group A and kept their unbeaten run intact. The night had two starring moments: Ayoub El Kaabi’s scoring clinic, capped by a stunning overhead kick, and the long-awaited return of Achraf Hakimi, who stepped onto the pitch in the 64th minute to a roar.

This was efficient, confident football. It was also the response that home fans wanted to see at a decisive moment. Kick-off came at 19:00 UTC, but Morocco set the tone early and never let go.

Morocco vs Zambia: Fast start, ruthless finish

Morocco got the early breakthrough on nine minutes, when striker Ayoub El Kaabi finished clinically to settle any nerves. With Zambia entering the match on two points from two draws, the onus was on them to chase. Instead, Morocco doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. Brahim Díaz struck on 27 minutes, and the hosts went into the break 2-0 up and in complete control.

After halftime, Morocco kept pushing while managing the tempo. The moment of the night arrived in the second half, when El Kaabi soared to meet a cross and delivered a brilliant overhead kick for 3-0. It was a highlight that will loop on screens across the continent, the kind of goal that turns a solid win into a statement.

“El Kaabi just put AFCON on notice with that overhead kick.”

Hakimi returns: A boost timed to perfection

Just as important as the scoreline was the sight of Achraf Hakimi back in a Morocco shirt. The right-back, crowned Africa’s best player at the CAF awards last month, had arrived at that ceremony on crutches. Here, with help from his club Paris Saint-Germain, he was fit enough to step on in the 64th minute. It was his first minutes of the tournament after missing the opening two matches through injury.

Coach Walid Regragui did not hide his gratitude. “I want to thank Paris St Germain. If Hakimi is back with us today, it’s thanks to them,” he said, adding, “There’s not a single club in the world that would release a player 15 days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.” That context matters. Morocco are hosts with real ambition, seeking their first AFCON title since 1976. Having their star defender, a leader on and off the pitch, return for the push ahead is a huge lift.

“Hakimi’s 30 minutes changed the mood—Morocco look complete again.”

Group A picture: Job done for the hosts

Heading into Matchday 3, Morocco sat on four points after a 2-0 win over Comoros and a 1-1 draw with Mali. The brief was simple: win and take control of Group A. They did exactly that. Zambia, who started the night in third with two points from two draws, needed something special. Morocco never gave them hope.

The clean sheet and the scoreline underline how balanced this team looks. With El Kaabi in form, Díaz linking play and scoring, and Hakimi re-integrated, the Atlas Lions checked every box a contender needs to tick at this stage.

Why this win matters for AFCON 2025

Tournament football is about rhythm and moments. Morocco found both in Rabat. The early goal set rhythm. The overhead kick gave them the moment. And Hakimi’s return added belief. For a team carrying the weight of a nation—and the pressure of being hosts—this was exactly the kind of performance that can settle a dressing room and ignite a campaign.

It also helps erase a recent prickly memory. The two sides traded blows in 2025 before AFCON: Morocco beat Zambia 3-1 on August 14, then fell 0-2 on September 8 in World Cup qualifying. This 3-0 feels like a reset button, tilting the head-to-head back Morocco’s way at the most public time.

El Kaabi and Díaz: The cutting edge

El Kaabi’s brace will grab the headlines, and rightly so. Strikers live on timing and instincts; he showed both. One goal came early when Zambia were still settling. The second was pure flair and athleticism—an overhead finish that stretched the lead and settled the crowd.

Do not overlook Brahim Díaz’s impact either. His 27th-minute strike doubled the cushion and allowed Morocco to control the game. Díaz brings sharp movement and a calm touch in tight spaces. In a tournament where one chance can change everything, that profile is gold.

“This is the response you expect from hosts; now finish the job.”

Regragui’s management: Clear plan, clear message

Walid Regragui kept the approach simple and strong. Get ahead early. Protect the lead without losing edge. Introduce Hakimi at a smart moment to build minutes and confidence. His public thanks to PSG for their role in Hakimi’s recovery also sent a message: Morocco are a united front, with club and country pulling in the same direction.

That matters in a packed schedule. As the knockout rounds loom, the group topper gains more than bragging rights. They gain control, form, and an identity. Morocco, unbeaten and now fully stocked with their stars, look like a team that knows who they are.

Match snapshot: Score, scorers, timeline

• Final score: Zambia 0-3 Morocco
• Goals: Ayoub El Kaabi 9′, Brahim Díaz 27′, El Kaabi (overhead) second half
• Half-time: Zambia 0-2 Morocco
• Kick-off: 19:00 UTC
• Venue: Complexe Sportif Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
• Key sub: Achraf Hakimi on at 64′

What’s next for the Atlas Lions

Top of Group A and unbeaten, Morocco move forward with momentum and a clean bill of confidence. The hosts have re-found their star right-back, their striker is scoring, and the team is playing with control. The last time Morocco lifted AFCON was 1976; this group knows the weight of that history. Nights like this are how you carry it.

There will be tougher tests ahead. But with this 3-0, Morocco showed they can handle the stakes and the spotlight. In a home tournament, that combination may be the difference between a good run and a title run.