00:00They will leave space behind.
00:02Well, don't want to leave yourself vulnerable at the back.
00:04As the CAF anthem sounds, the match referee and the two teams
00:07make their way out of the tunnel
00:09and onto this absolutely immaculate pitch.
00:12Morocco urged by a nation.
00:14Zambia organized, alert and determined to spoil the party.
00:17We are underway.
00:18Zambia in the orange and black against Morocco
00:21in not their traditional red but rather white.
00:23Winning immediately.
00:24Brian Diaz charging forward.
00:25Lovely ball out wide.
00:26Chance for the earliest goal ever at an Afghan
00:28and not going to happen here and now.
00:30But my word.
00:32The kind of player that can turn a match on its head.
00:34Masrawi in towards Esauzuli.
00:36It's a heavy touch though.
00:37And Chongo recovers for Zambia.
00:38Maybe a counter is on the cards.
00:40Daka getting into a central position.
00:43Recovery from Amunsenya.
00:46Oh, on the back foot.
00:48Brian Diaz into the 18-yard area.
00:50Alcabi holds it up.
00:51Support play running from deep.
00:53Alainui now wide.
00:54Esauzuli breaks into the area.
00:56Great opportunity to shot.
00:57Fires.
00:58It was powerful, but it was parried by Amunsa.
01:01Zambia.
01:03Oh, so near to conceding.
01:06But Mr. Clean Sheet, as he's known in Zambia,
01:08steps up with a fine save.
01:10But...
01:13The...
01:15Bad is up front.
01:16Making sure...
01:17And that is why they did not play defensive midfielder.
01:20Lovely long throw into a danger area.
01:24Dominic Chanda among those looking to marshal the defence.
01:29He and Sakala side by side as the ball is nodded away.
01:31Unai just a little off for a second chance ball.
01:35There is the chance for Unai.
01:37Strikes it, but it's deflected away.
01:40He will head out towards the corner flag.
01:42Takes it a little short to the edge of the area.
01:44Back post, header and goal!
01:46Ayub Elkabi strikes a 31st international goal and is second at this tournament.
01:52He scored a wonder goal against Comoros.
01:54He's lit up the stadium here in Rabat with an early goal against Zambia.
02:02That's what they needed at all costs, an early goal.
02:07Oh, a slight smile from Fouzi Lekcha,
02:10the man in charge of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
02:13He can afford a smile as Morocco have utterly enlivened this crowd and the stadium.
02:19Ayub Elkabi strikes again and it's a training ground move.
02:23Worked to perfection.
02:24Exactly.
02:25Look at the change of pace, the direction.
02:29Everybody was expecting him to play direct corner kick.
02:33And the fact that they changed the build-up and the...
02:36From throw-ins for goals scored in Zambia.
02:40The 20-year-old in Conor.
02:43Devil's man.
02:48Fended away.
02:49Shibi with a recovery out towards Unai.
02:51But the ball is won back beautifully on the far side.
02:54Lofted ball over the top by Massina.
02:56Chongo.
02:57Chaiwa will recover this.
02:59Under pressure from Ezra Zouli though.
03:01He's overwhelmed by Namba.
03:03Zalkabi has a chance.
03:04Looks to square it.
03:05Brahim Diaz now.
03:06Takes it wide.
03:07Shoots just beyond the goalkeeper.
03:09But just beyond his back post as well.
03:11Well struck.
03:12And this is what we said prior to the game that the Moroccans needed to do.
03:17That was to always...
03:18When...
03:19To put pressure on the opposition.
03:21The minute...
03:22The moment they lose the ball in the final third of your position.
03:25And that's what they just did there.
03:26Double up.
03:27A strike that could have gone in.
03:29Was not...
03:30Oh that's a delightful ball.
03:42Perfectly weighted Ezra Zouli on the end of it.
03:44Cut back space.
03:45Chance there.
03:46And he's done it.
03:47Brahim Diaz becomes only the second Moroccan to score in all three group stage matches for
03:52Morocco.
03:53Not since 1976 when Ahmed Faraz who lifted the trophy that year with Morocco did it.
04:00Has any Moroccan done it?
04:02Now the Atlas Lion himself.
04:04Brahim Diaz can celebrate a second Morocco goal in this game.
04:08A third of the tournament.
04:11And not just a box ticked.
04:13But a record equaled.
04:16This is a tip.
04:17This is a typical example of what we say.
04:20The quality of the pass is helped a lot by the quality of the run that was given.
04:26If we look at the run that was made on the left side of the attack for the Moroccans.
04:33It's actually 1972, I beg your pardon.
04:37I'm losing my mind here.
04:38They won it in 76, but it was all three group matches in 1972 that Faraz scored.
04:44He remains Morocco's all-time leading goal scorer there, Ahmed Faraz.
04:49And Cameroon 1972.
04:54Taken short.
04:55Ezazuli.
04:56Unai.
04:57Ezazuli charging forward.
04:58Low and flat.
04:59Deflected away.
05:00Second chance ball for Unai.
05:01And he's blasted it well wide.
05:03Now Unai with a lovely interception flying forward of several Moroccan players.
05:11Ezazuli square ball in behind everybody.
05:14It's mid late, but disappointingly for Diaz.
05:17He can't find the net a second time in the game.
05:20The attacking wave of the Moroccans is impressive.
05:24The moment the ball, look at it.
05:27Shibi back inside towards Brahim Diaz after Unai drifted out wide.
05:31Brahim Diaz powerful at parried.
05:34Mwanza with a save to deny Brahim Diaz a second in this game.
05:38And I think Diaz also, these two players are way ahead the rest of the pack.
05:44And Osemen is nothing bad.
05:46He's got his goal now.
05:48Half-time here.
05:49Zambia 0, Morocco 2.
05:51A quick thought on the 45-minute Sunday.
05:54And he is replaced by the very young attacker from Zanako, the 18-year-old Elia Mandangi.
06:00Second half is underway.
06:02Morocco in white lead by two.
06:04Zambia in their traditional orange and black with much to do.
06:09Morocco inside that 18-yard area again.
06:14A brief touch from Diaz.
06:16But away goes Zambia streaking forward, looking to work the ball up towards one of the danger players.
06:22Interesting that Moses Ciccione has gone with the teenager Mandangi rather than the more experienced Kennedy Musonda,
06:30who is their leading scorer in qualifying Sundays.
06:32We'll get back to that in a moment.
06:34Izzazuli dispossesses his opponent.
06:36Cut back space straight down the center.
06:38Unai gets a deflected shot in that Mwanza is able to pout.
06:42For the Zambians.
06:44A little bit of space opening up for Zambia.
06:46Lamekbanda runs onto it, controls past his man, gets past Shibi.
06:50Cut back inside. Zambia with a shot inside the 18-yard area.
06:54And it's pulled, disappointingly, from Daka.
06:57If you look at this action now, they're sending six players forward.
07:01And that's made the difference.
07:03One, two, three, four, five.
07:04And there are two of them that are off the screen.
07:06You can see?
07:07That is what they need to do as much as possible.
07:10Sending more players forward.
07:12But when you lose the ball, you can come back.
07:14But when you have the ball, go forward.
07:16Abdissamad Izzazuli, stand over it.
07:19Both Spain-based.
07:21Izzazuli with Real Batiste.
07:23Lovely ball over the top, and it's there again!
07:26Absolutely glorious!
07:28What a goal, unfortunately, it's an offside.
07:31Oh, my word, the flag raised.
07:34What a goal.
07:35He's like trying to outdo himself.
07:38Goal!
07:39Ayo Belkavi can celebrate a second in the game, a third in the tournament.
07:46Joins Brahim Diaz and Riyan Mahrez on three goals in the tournament.
07:51And it is special.
07:53It is significant.
07:54And it is stunning.
07:56This is beautiful for the...
07:59This is beautiful for football.
08:01Ayo Belkavi has an eye for the spectacular.
08:05And despite his age, he's edging on in years, shall we say.
08:10He is producing the most acrobatic of finishes.
08:13What age are you talking about?
08:15He's ageless.
08:17What is ageless?
08:18What age are you talking about?
08:20Well, goalkeepers hate these because you never know where they're gonna go.
08:24Ayo Belkavi, so clinical.
08:26Against Benin last year.
08:28Against Komoros here.
08:29And now against Zambia.
08:31Three bicycle kicks effectively in 12 months.
08:34Hakimi is on everyone.
08:36I think this country has...
08:38They've never seen a bigger star.
08:39The way the people have taken him.
08:42Chance from the set piece.
08:44Ager will strike it.
08:45But he strikes it well high and wide.
08:48USA a very good USA team 4-0.
08:50They beat Egypt 6-0 in the third place playoff.
08:53Hakimi.
08:56This one floats over.
09:00Here on the 4th of January.
09:02Hakimi.
09:07Problems.
09:08And Niseri is on the end of it here.
09:10And Niseri.
09:11Players lining up.
09:13Hakimi.
09:14Oh, agonizingly close.
09:15Kept alive though.
09:16Wonderful save from Mwanza.
09:19Talbi pulls it back.
09:20Shibi.
09:21Talbi.
09:22Great goalkeeping.
09:23Great goalkeeping.
09:24Great goalkeeping.
09:25Oh, that was in for all money.
09:27Here's a chance.
09:28And Hakimi again with the opportunity.
09:30Mwanza manages to pluck the bouncing ball.
09:34But this was in Niseri at his best.
09:38But what a chance.
09:39And what a save as you say.
09:41What a save.
09:43This is.
09:44Look at the extension.
09:45Probably some of the best moments of the game.
09:47Lamekbanda.
09:48Lamekbanda.
09:49Lamekbanda.
09:50There are outlets.
09:51There are passing lanes.
09:52There's a little space here.
09:54Lovely effort at the near post.
09:55But left by Bonu.
09:56Who knew exactly where his upright was.
09:58And it's no good for Kivin Kalusa.
10:01The 17 year old.
10:04Well struck.
10:05Well struck.
10:06Well struck.
10:07Deceptive struck.
10:10Look at the Moroccans.
10:11Still present.
10:12I didn't.
10:13Well.
10:14I was going to say.
10:15Listen to the Moroccan fans.
10:16As you say.
10:17Look at the Moroccans.
10:18And maybe those are linked.
10:19The noise from the crowd.
10:21And the performance from the players.
10:23A little tug off the ball.
10:25And that might be a caution.
10:27That should be a yellow card.
10:28Yeah.
10:29We are going to see.
10:30Unai collects the caution.
10:34Lamekbanda.
10:35Touchback.
10:36Lamekbanda.
10:37Well the interplay was far more promising.
10:42Well there's nothing silly about that.
10:44I think it's even a very very interesting question.
10:46Because like we said earlier.
10:48The Zambians are not humiliated.
10:49So it's not as if they were dominated.
10:51To the point of.
10:52You know.
10:53Being beaten more than that.
10:55The successes the Moroccans have had.
10:58You know.
10:59It's not been easy.
11:01That is the end of this tie.
11:03After the goalless draw.
11:04Between Koboros and Mali.
11:06I can confirm that Zambia are out.
11:09And that Morocco top group A.
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