Morocco’s march to the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals was temporarily halted after being held to a goalless draw by Zambia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The result comes as a setback following their emphatic 5-0 victory over Uganda in their opening fixture, delaying their qualification for both the next round and the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, the Atlas Lions struggled to break down a resolute Zambian side.
Nabil Baha’s team, which fielded an unchanged starting eleven from their previous triumph, found themselves up against a well-organized and physically resilient opponent.
Morocco stifled by a disciplined Zambian defense
Morocco stuck with their familiar 4-3-3 formation, yet they encountered far greater resistance than in their opening match.
Zambia’s defensive structure and physical presence posed a stark contrast to Uganda’s approach, forcing Morocco into a more measured game.
The first half saw Morocco enjoy extended spells of possession, but it was Zambia who created the clearer chances.
شوط بدون أهداف، التركيز على الشوط الثاني!
A goalless half, focus shifts to the second half!#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/HgohoGb6NB
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) April 3, 2025
Abel Salim Nyirongo nearly caught Moroccan goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch off guard with an ambitious lob in the 22nd minute, but his effort sailed just past the right post.
Morocco responded moments later with Ziyad Baha’s header at the far post, which narrowly missed the target.
Shortly before the interval, Rogers Simumba produced an excellent save to deny a long-range Moroccan strike.
Zambia continued to threaten, particularly through Billy Daka, who replaced the injured Nyirongo in the 32nd minute.
Just before halftime, Daka found space inside the box but failed to convert a cross from the right, keeping the game goalless.
VAR controversy leaves Morocco a man down
The second half brought further frustration for Morocco as they struggled to break down Zambia’s well-drilled defense.
Matters worsened in the 75th minute when captain Hamza Bouhadi was sent off following a VAR review for a high challenge on an opponent’s ankle.
The decision left Morocco playing the final quarter-hour with ten men, significantly reducing their attacking threat.
Moroccan goalkeeper Bellaarouch was called into action shortly after, producing a crucial stop to deny Zambia from capitalizing on their numerical advantage.
Late drama as Morocco misses decisive chance
Despite being a man down, Morocco nearly secured victory in the dying moments of stoppage time.
FIN DU MATCH !
C’est le deuxième match nul de la journée : la Zambie et le Maroc se partagent les points. 🤝#ZAMMAR | #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/a13he1v3iQ
— CAF – FR (@caf_online_FR) April 3, 2025
Ilies Belmokhtar found himself at the far post with a golden opportunity to seal qualification, but his powerful shot soared over the crossbar, leaving Moroccan fans in despair.
The 0-0 stalemate leaves both Morocco and Zambia level at the top of Group A, with a draw in their final matches enough to secure progression.
Morocco will now face Tanzania on Sunday, needing at least a point to confirm their place in the quarter-finals and book a ticket to the U17 World Cup.
Zambia, meanwhile, will take on Uganda with the same objective in sight.
