Hakim Ziyech’s first-half strike, his 22nd goal in 59 caps for Morocco, was all that hosts Ivory Coast needed to be assured of a place in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Morocco, one-time winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, defeated Zambia in a Group F fixture on Wednesday. On Monday, the Ivorians were defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their own final group stage game to finish the group in third position with three points after losing two games, including a 1-0 loss to Nigeria.
Their opening game, a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, is their only win of the competition so far. Although Ivory Coast are through to the knockouts after clinching the fourth and final best third-place spot, head coach Jean-Louis Gasset was fired just days following their 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, the AFCON hosts face reigning champion Senegal on Monday for a place in the quarter finals.
Meanwhile, 2012 Champions Zambia joined some of the other big names and former champions who have been knocked out of the competition so far after failing to get a draw that would have helped them secure a place in the next round.
AFCON 2023 Round of 16 Fixtures:
Angola vs Namibia
Date: Saturday, January 27
Venue: Stade de la Paix, Bouaket.
Nigeria vs Cameroon
Date: Saturday, January 27
Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet, Abidjan
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea
Date: Sunday, January 28
Venue: Stade Ouattara, Abidjan
Egypt vs DR Congo
Date: Sunday, January 28
Venue: Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro
Cape Verde vs Mauritania
Date: Monday, January 29
Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet, Abidjan
Senegal vs Cote D’Ivoire
Date: Monday, January 29
Venue: Stade Charles Banny, Yamoussoukro
Morocco vs South Africa
Date: Tuesday, January 30
Venue: Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro
Mali vs Burkina Faso
Date: Tuesday, January 30
Venue: Stade Amadou Coulibaly, Korhogo
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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