Group F of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 17 to 24 January 2024. The group consisted of Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania.
Morocco and DR Congo as the top two teams advanced to the round of 16.
Teams Draw position Team Zone Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2023 December 2023 F1 UNAF Group K winners 28 March 2023 19th 2021 Winners (1976) 13 13 F2 UNIFFAC Group I winners 9 September 2023 20th 2019 Winners (1968, 1974) 64 67 F3 COSAFA Group H winners 17 June 2023 18th 2015 Winners (2012) 82 84 F4 CECAFA Group F runners-up 7 September 2023 4th 2019 Group stage (1980, 2019) 122 121 Notes
Standings
Matches All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).
Morocco vs Tanzania Morocco and Tanzania met for the sixth time, with the previous five being qualification matches for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. The first meeting occurred on 9 October 2010, with Morocco winning 1–0 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and would win again exactly one year later on 9 October 2011, a 3–1 victory in Marrakech which secured Morocco's qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The nation split the two meetings during qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with Tanzania pulling off a 3–1 victory in Dar es Salaam on 24 March 2013, before Morocco won 2–1 in Marrakech on 8 June 2013. Ultimately, neither nation qualified for the tournament. The most recent meeting occurred on 21 November 2023, with Morocco winning 2–0 in Dar es Salaam to start off its road to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For the first 30 minutes Morocco struggled to break down a cohesive Tanzanian side, however, Hakim Ziyech finally struck a fierce free kick that was parried by Aishi Manula and fell for Romain Saïss to score the opener. Morocco struggled to break through the Tanzanian defence again until Novatus Dismas got dismissed in the 70th minute after a foul on Azzedine Ounahi. Ounahi then struck the second seven minutes later, before Youssef En-Nesyri secured Morocco's win just three minutes later from a clinical Achraf Hakimi pass.
GK 1 Yassine BounouRB 2 Achraf HakimiCB 5 Nayef AguerdCB 6 Romain Saïss (c) LB 27Mohamed Chibi CM 4 Sofyan AmrabatCM 15Selim Amallah RW 7 Hakim Ziyech AM 8 Azzedine Ounahi LW 16Abdessamad Ezzalzouli CF 19Youssef En-Nesyri Substitutions:FW 21Amine Adli MF 23Bilal El Khannous FW 20Ayoub El Kaabi FW 17Sofiane Boufal MF 10Amine Harit Manager:Walid Regragui GK 18Aishi ManulaRB 2 Haji MnogaCB 14Bakari MwamnyetoCB 4 Ibrahim HamadLB 15Mohammed Husseini CM 3 Mudathir Yahya CM 7 Himid Mao CM 20Novatus Dismas RW 10Mbwana Samatta CF 21Charles M'Mombwa LW 11Tarryn Allarakhia Substitutions:FW 12Simon Msuva MF 8 Morice Abraham MF 6 Feisal Salum Manager: Adel Amrouche
Man of the Match: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
Assistant referees: Jerson dos Santos (Angola) Seydou Tiama (Burkina Faso) Fourth official: Boubou Traoré (Mali) Video assistant referee: Mohamed Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius)
DR Congo vs Zambia DR Congo and Zambia met for the 14th time, with the previous notable meetings including matches during qualification for the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations, the 1998 World Cup, and the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations. Some of the meetings include matches that DR Congo played as Zaire, and the 2–2 draw on 9 April 1997 was notable because it would be the penultimate match Zaire played before being renamed to DR Congo. Both nations also finished in the top two of the qualification group for the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations to advance.
The match started brightly for the Congolese, but despite their domination, it was Zambia who struck first when a throw-in from Patson Daka fell to Kings Kangwa after clumsy efforts to clear by the DRC players. Nonetheless, DR Congo equalised just four minutes later when Cédric Bakambu unleashed his speed to overcome the Zambian defense before sending the ball through to Yoane Wissa to score. The final result was a 1–1 draw, the same as their previous competitive meeting in the 2015 AFCON.
This also meant Zambia had not won a competitive AFCON match since 2012, when they had been crowned champions.
GK 1 Lionel MpasiRB 24Gédéon Kalulu CB 22Chancel Mbemba (c)CB 2 Henoc Inonga BakaLB 26Arthur MasuakuDM 8 Samuel MoutoussamyRM 10Théo BongondaCM 14Gaël Kakuta CM 18Charles PickelLM 20Yoane Wissa CF 17Cédric Bakambu Substitutions:FW 13Meschak Elia FW 23Simon Banza FW 11Silas Manager: Sébastien Desabre GK 16Lawrence MulengaRB 26Tandi MwapeCB 13Stoppila SunzuCB 4 Frankie MusondaLB 23Rodrick KabweDM 15Kelvin KapumbuRM 8 Lubambo Musonda CM 22Kings Kangwa CM 12Emmanuel Banda LM 10Fashion SakalaCF 20Patson DakaSubstitutions:FW 9 Lameck Banda MF 11Larry Bwalya Manager: Avram Grant
Man of the Match: Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Liban Abdourazak (Djibouti) Nouho Ouattara (Ivory Coast) Fourth official: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi) Video assistant referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Assistant video assistant referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
Morocco vs DR Congo Morocco and DR Congo met for the sixth time in the 21st century, and the first time since the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, where DR Congo won 1–0. However, their most recent meetings was at the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, in which Morocco advanced to the final tournament after winning 5–2 on aggregate.
The match started well for the Moroccans when a corner by Hakim Ziyech, was volleyed in by Achraf Hakimi to give Morocco the lead in the sixth minute. However, the Congolese ramped up pressure later on despite Moroccan domination. They got a penalty from Selim Amallah's handball in the 36th minute, but Cédric Bakambu wasted this golden opportunity by putting his penalty wide. However, as the Moroccans started losing momentum in the second half, they were made to pay in the 76th minute when Meschak Elia's low cross was met by Silas to hit the equalizer.
GK 1 Yassine BounouRB 2 Achraf HakimiCB 5 Nayef AguerdCB 6 Romain Saïss (c)LB 27Mohamed Chibi DM 4 Sofyan AmrabatRM 7 Hakim Ziyech CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi CM 15Selim Amallah LW 17Sofiane Boufal CF 19Youssef En-Nesyri Substitutions:FW 16Abde Ezzalzouli MF 23Bilal El Khannous FW 21Amine Adli FW 20Ayoub El Kaabi MF 10Amine Harit Manager:Walid Regragui GK 1 Lionel MpasiRB 24Gédéon KaluluCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c) CB 2 Henoc Inonga Baka LB 26Arthur Masuaku DM 8 Samuel MoutoussamyRM 10Théo Bongonda CM 14Gaël Kakuta CM 18Charles Pickel LM 20Yoane WissaCF 17Cédric Bakambu Substitutions:DF 5 Dylan Batubinsika FW 13Meschak Elia FW 19Fiston Mayele FW 11Silas MF 6 Aaron Tshibola Manager: Sébastien Desabre
Man of the Match: Silas (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya) Stephen Yiembe (Kenya) Fourth official: Ahmed Heerallal (Mauritius) Video assistant referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa) Assistant video assistant referee: Mohamed Adel (Egypt)
Zambia vs Tanzania This was the teams’ first meeting at an AFCON tournament, with their most recent competitive meeting being in the 2020 African Nations Championship.
In the 11th minute Simon Msuva capitalised from teammate Mbwana Samatta's wicked cross to give Tanzania the lead, and things appeared to get even better for the Tanzanians when Zambia's captain Rodrick Kabwe committed a brutal foul against Samatta in the midfield at the 44th minute, resulting in his dismissal after two yellow cards. However, Tanzania failed to capitalise from that advantage and they were undone in the 88th minute when Patson Daka, from Clatous Chama's corner, struck late with a header to kill off Tanzania's hopes for a maiden AFCON victory.
GK 16Lawrence MulengaRB 3 Benedict Chepeshi CB 13Stoppila SunzuCB 4 Frankie MusondaLB 23Rodrick Kabwe (c) RM 10Fashion Sakala CM 22Kings Kangwa CM 15Kelvin Kapumbu CM 12Emmanuel BandaLM 9 Lameck Banda CF 20Patson DakaSubstitutions:MF 8 Lubambo Musonda FW 25Kennedy Musonda MF 17Clatous Chama MF 14Edward Chilufya DF 5 Miguel Chaiwa Manager: Avram Grant GK 18Aishi ManulaRB 2 Haji Mnoga CB 14Bakari MwamnyetoCB 4 Ibrahim HamadLB 15Mohamed Husseini CM 7 Himid Mao CM 19Mzamiru YassinRW 12Simon MsuvaAM 6 Feisal Salum LW 22Kibu Denis CF 10Mbwana Samatta (c)Substitutions:DF 16Lusajo Mwaikenda MF 8 Morice Abraham FW 21Charles M'Mombwa MF 3 Mudathir Yahya Manager: Adel Amrouche
Man of the Match: Patson Daka (Zambia)
Assistant referees: Eric Ayimavo (Benin) Modibo Samake (Mali) Fourth official: Boubou Traoré (Mali) Video assistant referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Assistant video assistant referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
Tanzania vs DR Congo It was the two countries' first ever AFCON meeting.
In a match mostly dominated by dull displays from both sides, Gaël Kakuta tried his luck with a set-piece, while Feisal Salum and Mbwana Samatta attempted to get to the scoresheet to no avail. Other attempts by Fiston Mayele and Simon Msuva also didn't produce results, as Tanzania and DR Congo were forced to settle for a draw.
The draw meant that Tanzania failed to register a single win in all three AFCON tournaments in which they had played, while DR Congo unimpressively advanced to the knockout stage to face Egypt, who had, like the Congolese, progressed despite remaining winless in their group.
GK 18Aishi ManulaRB 16Lusajo MwaikendaCB 14Bakari MwamnyetoCB 4 Ibrahim HamadLB 15Mohammed HusseiniDM 20Novatus DismasRM 2 Haji MnogaCM 7 Himid Mao CM 6 Feisal Salum LM 12Simon Msuva CF 10Mbwana Samatta (c) Substitutions:MF 19Mzamiru Yassin FW 22Kibu Denis MF 8 Morice Abraham MF 21Charles M'Mombwa Manager:Hemed Suleiman Ali GK 1 Lionel MpasiRB 24Gédéon KaluluCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c) CB 5 Dylan BatubinsikaLB 26Arthur MasuakuCM 18Charles Pickel CM 8 Samuel MoutoussamyRW 11Silas AM 14Gaël Kakuta LW 20Yoane Wissa CF 19Fiston Mayele Substitutions:MF 13Meschak Elia MF 6 Aaron Tshibola FW 17Cédric Bakambu MF 25Omenuke Mfulu Manager: Sébastien Desabre
Man of the Match: Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Attia Amsaaed Attia (Libya) Khalil Hassani (Tunisia) Fourth official: Mahmoud El-Banna (Egypt) Video assistant referee: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referee: Mohamed Adel (Egypt)
Zambia vs Morocco The two teams had never met at an AFCON tournament, with the most recent competitive meeting coming in the 2020 African Nations Championship, where Morocco had eliminated Zambia 3–1 in the knockout stage.
A draw would have sufficed for Zambia to have progressed ahead of Ivory Coast as one of the top four third-placed teams, but Hakim Ziyech scored the only goal to eliminate Zambia from the tournament.
GK 16Lawrence MulengaRB 26Tandi Mwape CB 13Stoppila SunzuCB 4 Frankie MusondaLB 8 Lubambo Musonda (c)CM 5 Fashion SakalaCM 12Emmanuel BandaRW 14Edward Chilufya AM 25Kennedy Musonda LW 9 Lameck Banda CF 20Patson DakaSubstitutions:MF 22Kings Kangwa FW 10Fashion Sakala MF 17Clatous Chama Manager: Avram Grant GK 1 Yassine BounouRB 2 Achraf Hakimi CB 5 Nayef AguerdCB 13Yunis AbdelhamidLB 25Yahia Attiyat AllahDM 4 Sofyan AmrabatRM 7 Hakim Ziyech (c) CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi CM 11Ismael Saibari LM 17Sofiane Boufal CF 20Ayoub El Kaabi Substitutions:FW 21Amine Adli MF 24Amir Richardson FW 16Abde Ezzalzouli FW 9 Tarik Tissoudali MF 23Bilal El Khannous Manager:Walid Regragui
Man of the Match: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
Assistant referees: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (Madagascar) Koffi Ahonto (Togo) Fourth official: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania) Video assistant referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa) Assistant video assistant referee: Carine Atezambong (Cameroon)
Discipline Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:
Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.
TeamMatch 1Match 2Match 3Points 2 3 1 –6 1 1 1 –3 1 1 1 –5 3 1 –6
Notes
References
External links