Zambia and Morocco bring Group A to a thrilling conclusion this Monday in Rabat, with the host nation aiming to secure top spot against a Chipolopolo side fighting for their tournament survival.
After two consecutive draws against Mali and Comoros, Zambia finds itself in a precarious position, needing a historic result against the Atlas Lions to guarantee a place in the knockout stages. For Morocco, a point would be enough to finish first in the group, but Walid Regragui’s side will be eager to satisfy a demanding home crowd following their frustrated 1-1 draw with Mali.
Match details: Time and Venue
The fixture is the final act of the Group A schedule, played simultaneously with the Comoros vs. Mali game to ensure maximum competitive drama.
- Date: Monday, 29 December 2025
- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT (20:00 local time)
- Venue: Complexe Sportif Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
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How to watch the game globally
With the host nation in action, global viewership is expected to hit peak levels. Fans can follow the clash via these major providers:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español; streaming via Fubo and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French). ZNBC will provide local coverage in Zambia.
- North Africa & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA.
- South Africa: SABC and the SABC+ app.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Zambia head coach Moses Sichone is expected to lean heavily on his “big game” players as he looks to orchestrate an upset. Patson Daka, who rescued a point against Mali with a trademark late header, will spearhead the attack alongside Lameck Banda. The biggest concern for the Chipolopolo is defensive depth; they will need a heroic performance from goalkeeper Willard Mwanza to withstand the expected Moroccan onslaught.
Morocco is likely to welcome back captain Achraf Hakimi to the starting XI after he was rested in the previous game. Brahim Diaz, who has already netted twice in this tournament, remains the focal point of a creative midfield that also features Azzedine Ounahi. However, the hosts may be without veteran defender Romain Saïss, who is nursing a minor knock sustained during the bruising encounter with Mali.
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The Fortress of Rabat
While Morocco enters as the heavy favorite, the weight of history and expectation provides a unique sub-plot to this fixture:
- Unbeatable streak: Morocco has won their last five consecutive head-to-head meetings against Zambia, including a clinical 2-0 victory in World Cup qualifying earlier this year.
- Zambia’s “draw” specialism: The Chipolopolo have become the tournament’s “stalemate kings,” recording five draws in their last six AFCON finals appearances dating back to 2023.
- Home ground advantage: The Atlas Lions have not lost a competitive match at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in over three years, turning the Rabat venue into a true fortress.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇲🇱 1-1 🇿🇲
All square between Mali and Zambia in their first #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 match. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/eSf3xwR9hM
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 22, 2025
Coach Walid Regragui is taking nothing for granted:
“We are at home, but that brings its own pressure. Zambia is a team that refuses to die, as we saw in their opening games. We don’t want to calculate points; we want to win to show the rest of the continent that we are ready for the title.”
