Morocco rendered an enormous favour for the host country Ivory Coast by defeating Zambia to send the Elephants into the Africa Cup of Nations last 16.
Zambia needed a point from their final Group F game to deny Ivory Coast the fourth and final qualification spot as the group stage’s best third-placed teams.
But Hakim Ziyech scored from close range in the 37th minute to send Zambia home, Ivory Coast through and help Morocco finish as group winner. Ziyech’s first-half strike was his 22nd goal in 59 caps for Morocco.
With just two points, Zambia could not secure one of the four spots in the last-16 that were set out for the top three finishers in the group. But instead, the Ivorians sneaked into the knockout stage, igniting fans’ joy in Laurent Pokou Stadium as they had come to cheer on Morocco, aware that their team would qualify if Zambia lost.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco will now lock horns with South Africa in their round of 16 game on Tuesday, while Ivory Coast will face defending champions Senegal in a mouth-watering last-16 tie on Monday.
Ivory Coast had sacked boss Jean-Louis Gasset earlier on Wednesday after their disappointing group displays put the host country on the brink of an early exit.
