THE TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 delivered another electrifying round of fixtures on Friday, December 26th, serving up a feast of drama that had everything: controversial penalties, VAR interventions, heroic defending, and one team booking their ticket to the knockout stages in spectacular fashion.
Morocco 1-1 Mali: Atlas Lions Held at Home
In what should have been a coronation in Rabat, Morocco found themselves clawing for points against a resilient Malian side that refused to be intimidated by the raucous home crowd. The match was a tactical chess match that exploded into life through two moments of spot-kick drama.
The Atlas Lions controlled the opening exchanges with their characteristic possession-based approach, weaving patterns across the pitch but finding Mali’s defensive organization impenetrable. Walid Regragui’s men probed and prodded, only to be met by a wall of white shirts every time they approached the danger zone.
Then came the breakthrough, delivered not through flowing football but through modern technology. Deep into first-half stoppage time, VAR detected a handball, and Brahim Díaz stepped up with ice in his veins to convert the penalty and send Morocco into the break with a precious lead.
But Mali, guided by the experienced Tom Saintfiet, emerged from the tunnel transformed. Their halftime adjustments paid immediate dividends, and just past the hour mark, justice was served in symmetrical fashion. Lassina Sinayoko was felled in the box, and the striker showed nerves of steel to dispatch the resulting penalty and restore parity.
Morocco threw everything forward in the dying stages, introducing attacking reinforcements and cranking up the tempo, but Mali’s rearguard stood firm. The final whistle brought frustration for the hosts and elation for the Eagles, who demonstrated that reputation means nothing once you cross the white line.
Man of the Match Neil El Aynaoui captured the mood perfectly: “We didn’t perform well in managing our lead and we need to move on.” For Morocco, it’s now a must-not-lose scenario against Zambia in the final group match. For Mali, facing Comoros, the dream remains very much alive.
Zambia 0-0 Comoros: The Goal That Never Was
At the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Zambia and Comoros produced a match heavy on intensity but desperately short on goals. The fixture had everything except the most important thing, football’s bottom line: the ball in the back of the net.
Comoros thought they’d found the breakthrough in the 19th minute when Mzean Maoulida sparked wild celebrations, only for VAR to cruelly intervene, spotting a foul in the buildup that sent the goal to the dustbin of history. It was a moment that would define the Coelacanths’ night, a microcosm of their tournament so far—close, but not quite close enough.
The match became a war of attrition, with midfield battles dominating proceedings. Comoros enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territorial advantage, particularly in the second half, but their final ball consistently let them down. Rushed finishing and momentary lapses in concentration cost them dearly.
For Zambia, the point keeps their qualification hopes alive with two points from two matches. For Comoros, sitting on one point, it’s all to play for in the final round. The island nation must now beat Mali while hoping other results fall their way—football’s beautiful uncertainty on full display.
Stefano Cusin, Comoros’ head coach, remained philosophical: “We delivered a good performance and were only missing the ability to score. We must win the final match and reach four points, which would allow us to continue in the tournament.”
Egypt 1-0 South Africa: The Pharaohs March On
In Agadir, Mohamed Salah once again proved why he’s considered African football royalty, delivering when it mattered most to send Egypt through to the Round of 16 with a match to spare. This wasn’t a vintage Egyptian performance – it was something perhaps more impressive: a masterclass in game management under the most adverse circumstances.
The match began as a cagey affair, two heavyweights circling each other, neither willing to make the first mistake. Then, on the stroke of halftime, came the moment that would define the contest. VAR spotted Khuliso Mudau’s challenge on Salah inside the area, and the Egyptian captain, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, stepped up and buried the penalty down the middle with characteristic composure.
But football, that most unpredictable of mistresses, had one more twist. Moments after the restart, Mohamed Hany saw red for a second bookable offense, and suddenly Egypt faced 45-plus minutes defending their slender lead with ten men.
What followed was a defensive exhibition for the ages. With Yasser Ibrahim marshaling the backline and Mohamed El Shenawy producing a calm, assured performance between the posts, Egypt absorbed wave after wave of South African pressure. Hugo Broos’s side controlled possession and created chances, but the Egyptian defensive wall held firm, every player putting their body on the line.
The drama reached fever pitch in stoppage time when a South African shot struck Ibrahim’s arm, sparking fervent penalty appeals. VAR reviewed, the stadium held its breath, but the referee’s decision stood. No penalty. Egypt had survived.
With six points from two matches, the Pharaohs are through. They’ve shown both sides of tournament football: attacking prowess against Zimbabwe in the opener, and today, defensive resilience when reduced to ten men. That’s the mark of champions.
Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe: Southern Solidarity Shares the Spoils
In Marrakech, Angola and Zimbabwe served up an entertaining encounter that ultimately left both sides with mixed emotions. The Palancas Negras struck first through Gelson Dala’s composed 26th-minute finish, a clinical right-footed effort into the bottom corner after Tó Carneiro’s defense-splitting pass.
For 20 minutes, Angola looked comfortable, but Zimbabwe refused to fold. Knowledge Musona, the veteran warrior, delivered when his nation needed him most, capitalizing on a lightning counter-attack in the dying seconds of first-half stoppage time. His right-footed finish from the right channel into the bottom left corner sent the Zimbabwean contingent into raptures.
The second half saw Angola dominate possession and territory, creating chances and keeping Zimbabwe pinned back. But the Warriors, true to their name, remained dangerous on the break and could have snatched victory themselves with better fortune.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left contemplating what might have been. With one point apiece and still searching for their first victories, both Angola and Zimbabwe know their final group matches will be make-or-break affairs. The Southern African derby against South Africa awaits Zimbabwe, while Angola face Egypt knowing the Pharaohs may rest key players with qualification already secured.
The Road Ahead
As we head into the final round of group matches, the picture is crystallizing but far from complete. Egypt stand alone as confirmed qualifiers, but behind them, chaos reigns. Morocco, Mali, Zambia, and Comoros all harbor legitimate hopes in Group A, while Group B promises a dramatic finale with three teams still fighting for two remaining spots.
This is AFCON at its finest: unpredictable, passionate, dramatic, and utterly compelling. The knockout stages beckon, and if these group games are any indication, we’re in for a tournament that will be remembered for years to come.
The beautiful game just keeps getting more beautiful.
