By Our Man in Rabat
MOROCCO turned the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium into a cauldron of noise tonight as they brushed aside Zambia 3-0 to seal their spot in the AFCON 2025 knockout stages.
The newly-renovated 69,500-capacity arena in Rabat—the crown jewel of Moroccan football—provided a world-class stage for a performance that screamed “tournament favorites.” From the first whistle, the hosts looked right at home under the dazzling lights of the capital city’s flagship venue.
It took just nine minutes for the Rabat crowd to erupt. Ayoub El Kaabi rose highest in the box to meet Azzedine Ounahi’s dinked cross, heading home to set the tone for a dominant evening.
Zambia, the 2012 champions, looked completely overawed by the occasion and the sheer scale of the Rabat atmosphere.
Their defense was breached again in the 27th minute when Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz latched onto a diagonal ball and swept a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
But the moment of the match—and perhaps the tournament—arrived just after the break. In front of over 60,000 screaming fans, El Kaabi produced a piece of pure magic, executing a spectacular bicycle kick that left the Zambian keeper rooted to the spot.
The venue was the real star of the show.
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which was recently upgraded to meet elite international standards, felt less like a football ground and more like a gladiatorial arena.
The North African giants used every inch of the pristine grass to stretch a leggy Zambia side that never looked like finding a way back. As the final whistle blew, the “Atlas Lions” celebrated a victory that saw them finish top of Group A with seven points.
For Zambia, the “Copper Bullets” saw their campaign end in a whimper, finishing bottom of the group and heading home early.
Morocco will now remain in Rabat for their Round of 16 clash on January 4.
On this evidence, anyone coming to the capital to face the hosts will need more than just luck to survive the Rabat roar.
