Morocco finishes top of group B to set up a quarter-final clash with host Algeria at Anaba on Thursday 11th May at 2000 hours in the quarters.
The Chipolopolos of Zambia on Saturday gave a shocking defeat to the Atlas Lions of Morocco to a 2-1 at the 19 May Stadium in Anaba at the 2023 AFCON U17 tournament.
Zakaria Ouazane had opened scores for Morocco putting hope alive to collect full 9 points but Samson Melaya who substituted Kawonga Phiri in the 46th minute got a telegraphic pass from Emmanuel Mwanza in the 73rd minute to score the equalizer.
Just as book makers were plotting the table of Group B, Mwanza who scored 2 goals against South Africa stepped forward in the 87th minute to score a beautiful penalty. It was 3-2 for Zambia at the final whistle for the Chipolopolo’s only win at the tournament but not good enough to earn a quarterfinal ticket.
Zambia and Morocco have never met before at this level.
First appearance of Morocco was in 2013 as hosts and the team lost in the longest penalty kicks ever to Tunisia 11-10 after 1-1 at full time. At her second coming in Swaziland in 2019 the team was sent packing at the group stage.
Zambia is coming for the second time but in their first appearance in 2015, the team lost at the group stages in their second appearance in 2019.
Nigeria lost the first place on Group B table by whiskers to Morocco clocking 6 points like Morocco but Morocco scored 4 goals like Nigeria and conceded just two goals while Nigeria conceded 3 goals – a painful goals difference. South Africa came 3rd on the table with 3 points like Zambia scoring 5 goals and conceding 7 and Zambia will leave Algeria in 48 hours being at the bottom scoring 4 goals and conceding 5.
On Sunday at 2000 hours Mali will be watching Burkina Faso slug it out with the Cub Lions of Cameroon in Group C as Southern Sudan which should have played the Malians has been disqualified.
Already the fixtures for the quarterfinals are taking shape. Senegal will meet the team from group B or C on the 10th of May at Constantine; Morocco will line up against hosts Algeria at Anaba on 11th May at 2000 hours; Mali will meet Congo at Algiers on 11th May at 1700 hours and Nigeria will slug it out with Group C Runners up at Algiers on 11th May at 2000 hours.
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