Zambia vs Morocco Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Zambia will fancy themselves to take advantage of a potentially complacent Morocco side, who are hosts and pre-tournament favourites of this CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Matches will be televised across the Channel 4 network / USA – beIN Sports

How to watch online: UK – All 4 & Channel 4 Sport YouTube / USA – beIN Sports Connect & Fubo

Zambia preview: Solid Zambians

In their opening game of the tournament, Zambia shared a 1-1 draw with Mali at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, with Leicester City striker Patson Daka scoring a second-half stoppage-time equaliser for the Zambians.

They followed that reasonable result up with a fairly lacklustre and disappointing performance against an average Comoros side the other day, as they laboured to a goalless draw in Casablanca once again.

Morocco preview: Strong Moroccans

Coached by Walid Regragui, the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco arguably have an even better squad than that record-breaking side in Qatar, and they have extended their unbeaten run of form in official matches to 27.

Their tournament began with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Comoros in the opening game of the competition last week before then being frustratingly pegged back to a 1-1 draw with Mali the other day.

Zambia team news: No need to change

Zambia head into this one with a fully fit and available squad and so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven from their steady performances so far at AFCON.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mwanza; S. Banda, B. Sakala, Chanda, Musonda; Tembo, Simukonda; L. Banda, Kangwa, F. Sakala; Daka

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Morocco team news: As strong as possible

Morocco have a deep and impressive squad. They will be able to change and rotate should they choose but, with the group not yet won, that does appear to be unlikely.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bono; Mazraoui, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Salah-Eddine; El Aynaoui, Amrabat, Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, El Kaabi, Saibari

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Zambia vs Morocco prediction

Zambia will hope that the Moroccans are complacent in their final group stage game. However, what is more likely is that their failure to beat Comoros comes back to bite them with Mali facing the minnows in the other fixture in this group. The Atlas Lions weren’t dominant against Mali but were still unfortunate to be pegged back and they should round off the first stage with a victory here. 

Zambia vs Morocco tip: Morocco to win