- Morocco win over Zambia sends Ivory Coast through
- Reprieve for hosts
- Morocco favourites to lift the title
Morocco came through for Ivory Coast in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations match against Zambia, allowing the Elephants to advance to the tournament’s last 16 stage.
Morocco clinch top spot in group with win
Zambia needed at least a draw in their Group F finale to secure progression, but a goal from Hakim Ziyech sealed their fate and propelled Ivory Coast forward while also helping Morocco clinch the top spot in the group.
The Atlas Lions will now face South Africa in the knockout stages, setting the stage for an exciting match on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, following the dismissal of their coach Jean-Louis Gasset due to disappointing group stage performances, secured a spot in the last 16 and are set to face Senegal in what promises to be an enticing encounter on Monday.
Ivory Coast’s advancement owes much to the timely victory secured by Walid Regragui’s Moroccan side. Regragui, however, was notably absent from the dugout against Zambia due to a four-match ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football for “post-match incidents” following a previous match against DR Congo. Despite the absence of their coach, Morocco delivered when it mattered most. Regragui will also miss the upcoming last-16 clash against South Africa unless an appeal against the ban proves successful.
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AFCON Betting
Morocco are currently favourites for the tournament, priced at 11/4 with bet365. Senegal are priced at 3/1, Nigeria 13/2, hosts Ivory Coast, 9/1 and Egypt 14/1.
Bettors will have to analyse how the group stages played out, the impact of injuries to key players, such as Mohamed Salah, and whether they feel certain teams can improve and reach their potential in the knockout stages.
Check out the best betting sites in the UK and the best football and AFCON bookies with Betting.com.
