The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 delivered another memorable night as Matchday 8 settled the knockout picture for Groups A and B. Four simultaneous fixtures across Morocco produced contrasting narratives: dominant hosts, defensive resilience, squad rotation, and late drama.
Morocco 3-0 Zambia: El Kaabi's bicycle kick steals the show
At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco responded emphatically after their draw against Mali, dismantling Zambia with ruthless efficiency to finish top of Group A with seven points.
Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 9th minute, rising unchallenged to head home Azzedine Ounahi's corner delivery. Brahim Díaz doubled the lead in the 27th minute with a composed left-footed finish after a slick team move involving Abde Ezzalzouli.
The highlight arrived in the 53rd minute when El Kaabi produced a spectacular bicycle kick to seal his brace. Initially flagged offside, VAR intervention confirmed the goal, sparking jubilation inside a fervid stadium. Captain Achraf Hakimi came off the bench to a rapturous ovation, underlining the depth Walid Regragui possesses.
"We finished top of our group. That was our objective, and it means we will stay in Rabat," El Kaabi stated after receiving the Man of the Match award. "Now a new competition begins, where there is no room for error." (Source: CAF Online)
Zambia coach Moses Sichone admitted his side showed too much respect: "We prepared so much for this match, but I don't think we showed up and Morocco capitalised on the lack of confidence." (Source: CAF Online)
Mali 0-0 Comoros: Ten-man Eagles hold on
In Casablanca, Mali secured progression with a disciplined goalless draw against Comoros, despite playing the final minutes with ten men after Amadou Haidara's late red card.
The match was shaped by tension rather than creativity. Mali controlled territory but lacked penetration, while Comoros remained dangerous on transitions. Meziani Maoulida came closest for Comoros, hesitating at a crucial moment, while Lassine Sinayoko's powerful effort was superbly saved by the Comorian goalkeeper.
The result confirmed Mali in second place with three points from three draws, extending their remarkable unbeaten run in AFCON group stages to 12 consecutive matches. Comoros exit with their heads high after competitive displays throughout the tournament.
Egypt 0-0 Angola: Pharaohs rotate ahead of knockouts
At the Stade d'Agadir, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan made wholesale changes with qualification already secured, fielding a rotated XI against Angola.
The Palancas Negras were the better side, creating the clearer openings. Fredy struck the woodwork with a curling free-kick, M'Bala Nzola grazed the post late on, and goalkeeper Shobeir was forced into several fine saves. Yet Angola's final touch repeatedly let them down.
The match carried additional emotional weight as Fredy, 35, confirmed it was his final appearance for Angola after 12 years with the national team. "It's difficult to talk about this award because it's not what we wanted," he said after receiving Man of the Match. "I am very proud to be Angolan and to have worn this shirt." (Source: CAF Online)
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was satisfied: "We wanted a positive result and this draw is satisfactory. We chose to change the team and rest players. We are happy with this result and now look ahead to the round of 16." (Source: CAF Online)
South Africa 3-2 Zimbabwe: Bafana survive dramatic fightback
The most thrilling encounter unfolded at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, where South Africa edged Zimbabwe 3-2 in a contest that swung repeatedly until the final whistle.
Tshepang Moremi gave Bafana an early lead in the 7th minute before Tawanda Maswanhise produced individual brilliance to equalise, weaving past defenders before unleashing a powerful finish. Lyle Foster restored South Africa's advantage shortly after half-time with a clever looping header.
The decisive moment came in the 82nd minute when Oswin Appollis converted from the spot after VAR awarded a penalty for a handball by Marvelous Nakamba. Zimbabwe refused to surrender, pulling one back through an Aubrey Modiba own goal to set up a frantic finish.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos was characteristically honest: "The match was under control until we scored. After that, we repeated the same mistakes as in previous games: poor passing and bad positioning. I like attacking football, but football is also about defending well." (Source: CAF Online)
Zimbabwe's Mario Marinica reflected on missed opportunities: "At this level of competition, every mistake is punished. We tried to stay organised, win our duels and be strong on second balls." (Source: CAF Online)
Group standings after Matchday 8
Group A:
- 1. Morocco – 7 pts (qualified)
- 2. Mali – 3 pts (qualified)
- 3. Comoros – 2 pts (eliminated)
- 4. Zambia – 2 pts (eliminated)
Group B:
- 1. Egypt – 7 pts (qualified)
- 2. South Africa – 6 pts (qualified)
- 3. Angola – 2 pts (awaiting third-place standings)
- 4. Zimbabwe – 1 pt (eliminated)
What this means for the Round of 16
Morocco will continue playing at their home Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat for the knockout rounds—a significant advantage for Regragui's men given the fervent home support. Egypt and Mali avoid the hosts' side of the bracket for now.
With El Kaabi leading the tournament scoring charts and Morocco's defence yet to concede from open play, the Atlas Lions remain the team to beat. But as Matchday 8 demonstrated, AFCON's beauty lies in its unpredictability—something South Africa's dramatic victory and Angola's near-miss underlined perfectly.