Morocco Win Over Zambia Allows Ivory Coast to Scrape into Last 16

Hakim Ziyech (R) celebrates scoring for Morocco with teammate Nayef Aguerd - AFP
Hakim Ziyech (R) celebrates scoring for Morocco with teammate Nayef Aguerd - AFP
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Morocco Win Over Zambia Allows Ivory Coast to Scrape into Last 16

Hakim Ziyech (R) celebrates scoring for Morocco with teammate Nayef Aguerd - AFP
Hakim Ziyech (R) celebrates scoring for Morocco with teammate Nayef Aguerd - AFP

Hakim Ziyech scored to give Morocco a 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group F win over Zambia on Wednesday -- a result that enabled hosts Ivory Coast to scrape into the last 16.

The Ivorians, humbled 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea on Monday, were among the four highest-ranked third-placed teams who qualified.

Group winners Morocco will face South Africa in the round of 16 while runners-up the Democratic Republic of Congo, who drew 0-0 with Tanzania, face Egypt.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui watched the match from the stand after being banned for two matches following a post-match clash with DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba on Sunday, AFP reported.

Regragui entered the pitch after a 1-1 draw and appeared to have strong words with Mbemba, while also attempting to shake hands. The two men then had to be separated by several people.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said they will appeal the suspension, calling it an "incomprehensible decision (as) Regragui did not... contravene the spirit of fair play".

Morocco were playing their 73rd match and Zambia a 70th in the flagship African competition, but this was only the third time they have met with the Atlas Lions previously winning and drawing.

Captain and defender Romain Saiss was rested by the shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists and forward Youssef En-Nesyri started on the bench.

With Zambia captain Roderick Kabwe suspended, recalled Lubambo Musonda led Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets), and regular starters Fashion Sakala and Kings Kangwa were among the substitutes.

Morocco began the final round group match already assured of a last-16 place while Zambia had to at least draw to squeeze through at the expense of Ivory Coast.

As anticipated, a Moroccan team ranked number one in Africa quickly established control of territory and possession in the southwestern coastal city.

Zambia survived a number of scares before finally falling behind after 38 minutes in a stadium named after deceased Ivorian football legend Laurent Pokou.

Goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga spilled a cross from Achraf Hakimi and Ziyech reacted quickest in the goalmouth and slammed the loose ball into the net.

Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal was lectured by the Gabonese referee soon after for diving in the area, seeking a penalty.

Ziyech, on loan to Istanbul outfit Galatasaray from Chelsea, did not reappear for the second half due to an injury and was replaced by Amine Adli.

With 20 minutes remaining, Zambia coach and former Chelsea and West Ham United manager Avram Grant introduced Sakala and Kangwa, hoping they could boost chances of an equaliser.



Djokovic and Kyrgios Lose in Doubles at Brisbane International

Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia and Nick Kyrgios (L) of Australia react during their doubles match against Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane, Australia, 01 January 2025. EPA/JONO SEARLE
Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia and Nick Kyrgios (L) of Australia react during their doubles match against Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane, Australia, 01 January 2025. EPA/JONO SEARLE
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Djokovic and Kyrgios Lose in Doubles at Brisbane International

Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia and Nick Kyrgios (L) of Australia react during their doubles match against Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane, Australia, 01 January 2025. EPA/JONO SEARLE
Novak Djokovic (R) of Serbia and Nick Kyrgios (L) of Australia react during their doubles match against Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane, Australia, 01 January 2025. EPA/JONO SEARLE

The new doubles team of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios are out of the Brisbane International in the second round, The Associated Press reported.
The pair, granted a wild-card entry by tournament organizers, lost 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 Wednesday to the top-seeded team of Nikola Mektic of Croatia and New Zealander Michael Venus.
A Djokovic double-fault with the duo leading 8-6 in the match tiebreak was key to the defeat as they lost the last four points of the match.
“Incredible,” Mektic told the sold-out crowd. “I was very happy when I saw them, I could play them on the first of January. It’s an amazing feeling to start the year like this and we knew there would be points like that against players like this.”
Djokovic and Kyrgios won their opening doubles match, a crowd-pleasing, fist-pumping affair by both players at Pat Rafter Arena.
Kyrgios lost his opening singles match on Tuesday after an 18-month absence from the tour due to injuries. Djokovic won his first singles match on the same day and will next play Gael Monfils, who he has a 19-0 record against.