Morocco defeated Zambia 1-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday night and sent Cote d’Ivoire to the last 16, after a day in which the tournament hosts sacked their coach.
The final day of group-stage action also saw Namibia secure a place in the knockout stage of AFCON for the first time, while South Africa progressed and several of the continent’s heavyweights responded to shock eliminations by parting company with their managers.
Morocco beat Zambia in San-Pedro to finish top of Group F and condemn the Chipolopolo, coached by Avram Grant, to a first-round exit.
Hakim Ziyech scored the only goal of the game late in the first half and the Atlas Lions will stay in San-Pedro for a last-16 clash with South Africa next Tuesday.
They will be without coach Walid Regragui on the touchline for that game in which he will complete a two-match ban handed down on Wednesday following incidents at the end of Morocco’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo last weekend.
Morocco’s result was celebrated all over the host nation as it allowed Ivory Coast to squeeze into the next round as one of the four best third-placed teams.
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The Elephants had been staring at the prospect of a humiliating group-stage exit after a stunning 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea on Monday.
They were the first Cup of Nations host in 40 years to lose two group games, but a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in their opening match ultimately proved sufficient.
However, they now face a daunting tie against reigning champions Senegal in capital city Yamoussoukro next Monday, and they will do so with a new coach.
Veteran French boss, Jean-Louis Gasset, was dismissed by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) on Wednesday, with assistant Emerse Fae stepping up to replace him.
Fae played alongside Didier Drogba in the Ivorian team that lost the 2006 AFCON final to Egypt.
DR Congo also qualified for the last 16 in second place in Group F behind Morocco after a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in Korhogo.
A third draw in as many matches allowed the Leopards to progress to a tie against record seven-time champions Egypt in San-Pedro on Sunday.
Tanzania go home after finishing bottom of the group, and they have still never won an AFCON match in nine attempts across three appearances at the finals.
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