The celebration was short-lived in the Belgian capital. While the qualification of Morocco for the round of 16 of the CAN was celebrated with joy by the majority of supporters, Monday evening was marred by serious disturbances in the municipalities of Koekelberg and Molenbeek.
The suspense is over. After brilliantly validating their first place in Group A, the Atlas Lions now know their fate. They will face the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations. The appointment is set for next Sunday at the Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat.
As the Africa Cup of Nations is in full swing in Morocco , an unexpected controversy is emerging from the stands. Many matches are officially "sold out", yet television images reveal partially empty stands. This paradoxical situation frustrates supporters who were denied tickets and could tarnish the image of the Kingdom in the race for the 2030 World Cup final.
The adventure ends prematurely for Zambia . Defeated 3-0 by Morocco on Monday evening, Moses Mwape Sichone’s men are out of the competition in the first round. In the press conference, the coach acknowledged the superiority of the opponent and the mistakes of his team, while pleading for patience in order to build the future.
The joy of Moroccan supporters turned to excess on Monday evening in the Pink City. Following the victory of the Atlas Lions against Zambia, the celebrations degenerated in Toulouse, where a police station was targeted by pyrotechnic devices.
The truth on the field prevailed over the provocations . After describing Morocco as an "overrated" team before the match, Zambian midfielder Wilson Chisala radically changed his discourse after his team’s heavy defeat (3-0), acknowledging the undisputed superiority of the Atlas Lions.
Qualified with panache and assured of remaining in their Rabat fortress, the Atlas Lions now have their eyes fixed on the other groups. The regulations are clear: the group A winner will face the best third-placed team from groups C, D or E. In light of the current standings, three scenarios are emerging for Walid Regragui, ranging from the trap match against Sudan to the physical challenge against Benin.
Mission accomplished for Walid Regragui. After the convincing victory over Zambia (3-0) , the national coach did not hide his satisfaction, hailing a collective performance that was completed at the ideal time to approach the knockout phase.
The transition to the year 2026 promises to be highly tense in the Hexagon. While the Ministry of the Interior is preparing its traditional security system for New Year’s Eve, an additional variable is complicating the equation this year: the Africa Cup of Nations currently taking place in Morocco. Fearing that the fervor of the supporters could turn into disturbances on the public highway, Minister Laurent Nuñez has ordered "total firmness" to the prefects.
A perfect evening for the national team. Morocco brilliantly validated their first place in Group A by outclassing Zambia (3-0) at the Moulay Abdellah complex. Driven by a spectacular brace from Ayoub El Kaabi and total control, Walid Regragui’s men earn the right to continue the adventure at home, in Rabat, fully reassuring a public won over by the return of Achraf Hakimi.
The "off-the-record" has gone viral and the method is causing a stir. An El Heddaf Algerian channel journalist was caught red-handed manipulating while dictating false criticisms about the organization of the CAN to supporters, unaware that his microphone was recording everything.
Forgotten are the grudges from the draw against Mali. This Monday, as Morocco plays its first place against Zambia, the public has decided to silence its doubts to rally behind Walid Regragui and his players. It is time for a general mobilization to push the national team towards the crown.