CAN U17 – Morocco 2025: Draw (0-0) between Morocco and Zambia
0-0: A Draw for Morocco’s U17 National Team Against Zambia
The result of the match between the national U17 team of Morocco and its Zambian counterpart ended in a scoreless draw on Thursday at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, during the second round of Group A at the U17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON U17).
This clash between the two top teams in the group, both of which had made a strong statement with impressive victories in their opening matches (Morocco defeating Uganda 5-0 and Zambia overcoming Tanzania 4-1), was fairly evenly matched. The Moroccan team displayed an aggressive offensive approach, while the Zambians appeared well-organized on the field.
From the very first whistle, the Moroccan squad aimed to take control of the game, applying high pressure to prevent the Zambians from building their play and to set up quick counterattacks, capitalizing on the skill and speed of their players.
The efforts of Nabil Baha’s team allowed them to dominate possession and create several scoring opportunities. However, they struggled to pose a significant threat against a resilient Zambian team, particularly in midfield and defense.
At the end of the first half, Morocco had recorded eight shots compared to just one for Zambia, with only one notable chance coming from Abdellah Ouazzane’s powerful drive from 20 meters out (40th minute) that forced the Zambian goalkeeper into action.
The second half began at a higher intensity, with the Moroccan team pressing more offensively, yet the Zambians also threatened with more dangerous moments. A prime example was a shot from Andrew Mwape from 30 meters that required a strong save from the Moroccan goalkeeper (66th minute).
The pivotal moment of the match came with the expulsion of Hamza Bouhaddi in the 75th minute, who made a reckless tackle on a Zambian player while attempting to clear the ball from Morocco’s defensive zone. Following the resulting free kick, goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch managed to deflect a driven shot that had bounced right in front of him.
The Lionceaux de l’Atlas (Atlas Lions) faced a challenging situation, having to fend off the Zambian side, who were now a man up, while still attempting to maintain their offensive efforts. Ilies Belmokhtar nearly delivered a decisive blow during stoppage time (90+7 minute), finding himself one-on-one with the Zambian goalkeeper after a curling cross from Ilyas El Arbaoui, but he misjudged the opportunity.
Ultimately, while unable to secure a victory, this draw allowed the Moroccan team to stay at the top of their group with four points, ahead of Zambia (also on 4 points) due to a superior goal difference, and Uganda (3 points). Tanzania trails without any points so far.
