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

Post by : Mina Rahman

The knockout phase of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 is set, as Morocco, Mali, and South Africa have secured their places following the conclusion of the final group matches.

In the first match of Group A, Morocco – affectionately known as the Atlas Lions – showcased their prowess against Zambia. Hosting the match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco dominated from the outset, sealing a convincing 3-0 victory. This triumph allowed Morocco to finish atop Group A with a total of seven points, confidently stepping into the round of 16. Zambia struggled throughout the tournament, finishing last with a mere two points, resulting in their early tournament exit.

In another key matchup in Group A, Mali faced off against the Comoros at the Mohamed V Complex. Despite both teams putting forth strong efforts, they ended in a stalemate, drawing 0-0. This draw granted Mali a crucial point, cementing their second-place finish in the group with three points and allowing them to progress to the knockout stages. The Comoros, despite their tenacity and solid defense, concluded the group phase in third place with two points, leading to their elimination.

Over in Group B, a thrilling contest unfolded between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Marrakesh Stadium. South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, narrowly overcame Zimbabwe with a 3-2 victory, securing the necessary six points to qualify for the round of 16 as the group’s second-placed team. Unfortunately for Zimbabwe, this defeat extinguished their hopes of advancement.

Additionally, Egypt maintained their dominant performance, finishing at the top of Group B. Earlier in the day, they played to a cautious 0-0 draw against Angola, which solidified their first-place standing with seven points. Their unbeaten record through the group stages underscores their potential as serious contenders for the title in this AFCON edition.

With the group stages concluded, Morocco, Mali, South Africa, and Egypt set their sights on the knockout rounds, where the competition will undoubtedly intensify as teams vie for the coveted continental trophy.