Morocco, Mali, and South Africa Progress to AFCON 2025 Knockouts

The journey to the knockout rounds of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 has concluded, with Morocco, Mali, and South Africa securing their spots after the final group-stage encounters.

In Group A, Morocco's national team, affectionately known as the Atlas Lions, showcased an impressive performance against Zambia. Hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco dominated the pitch and emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 scoreline. This crucial triumph allowed Morocco to finish at the top of Group A with seven points, advancing smoothly into the round of 16. Conversely, Zambia struggled to make their mark during the group stage, ultimately placing last with just two points, resulting in an early exit from the tournament.

The other clash in Group A saw Mali go head-to-head against the Comoros at the Mohamed V Complex. Both sides battled intensely, but neither found the back of the net, ending in a 0-0 stalemate. This single point was enough for Mali to secure the second position in the group with three points, assuring their advancement. Meanwhile, despite strong defensive efforts, the Comoros finished third with two points and were eliminated.

Group B featured an exhilarating match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Marrakesh Stadium. Known affectionately as Bafana Bafana, South Africa narrowly defeated Zimbabwe in a riveting 3-2 match. This victory enabled South Africa to accumulate six points, thus confirming their place in the round of 16 as the second team in Group B. Zimbabwe's defeat dashed their hopes of progressing further.

In a related match, Egypt preserved their immaculate record in the tournament by topping Group B. Earlier in the day, Egypt played a cautious 0-0 draw against Angola, securing seven points and finishing first in the group. Their unbeaten run throughout the group stage highlights their potential as strong contenders for the title in this AFCON edition.

Now that the group stages have wrapped up, Morocco, Mali, South Africa, and Egypt gear up for the knockout rounds where the competition will escalate as teams strive for the prestigious continental trophy.