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2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group F

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Group F of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 17 to 24 January 2024.[1] The group consisted of Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania.[2]

Morocco and DR Congo as the top two teams advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

[edit]
Draw position Team Zone Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2023[nb 1] December 2023
F1  Morocco UNAF Group K winners 28 March 2023 19th 2021 Winners (1976) 13 13
F2  DR Congo UNIFFAC Group I winners 9 September 2023 20th 2019 Winners (1968, 1974) 64 67
F3  Zambia COSAFA Group H winners 17 June 2023 18th 2015 Winners (2012) 82 84
F4  Tanzania CECAFA Group F runners-up 7 September 2023 4th 2019 Group stage (1980, 2019) 122 121

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of October 2023 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Morocco 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  DR Congo 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
3  Zambia 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2[a]
4  Tanzania 3 0 2 1 1 4 −3 2[a]
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head points. Overall goal difference: Zambia −1, Tanzania −3.

Matches

[edit]

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

Morocco vs Tanzania

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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.

Morocco 3–0 Tanzania
Report
Morocco
Tanzania
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 5 Nayef Aguerd
CB 6 Romain Saïss (c) Yellow card 52'
LB 27 Mohamed Chibi Yellow card 61'
CM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
CM 15 Selim Amallah downward-facing red arrow 72'
RW 7 Hakim Ziyech downward-facing red arrow 81'
AM 8 Azzedine Ounahi downward-facing red arrow 81'
LW 16 Abdessamad Ezzalzouli downward-facing red arrow 71'
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri downward-facing red arrow 81'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Amine Adli upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 23 Bilal El Khannous upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 20 Ayoub El Kaabi upward-facing green arrow 81'
FW 17 Sofiane Boufal upward-facing green arrow 81'
MF 10 Amine Harit upward-facing green arrow 81'
Coach:
Walid Regragui
GK 18 Aishi Manula
RB 2 Haji Mnoga
CB 14 Bakari Mwamnyeto
CB 4 Ibrahim Hamad
LB 15 Mohammed Husseini Yellow card 90+6'
CM 3 Mudathir Yahya downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 7 Himid Mao Yellow card 22'
CM 20 Novatus Dismas Yellow card 31' Yellow-red card 70'
RW 10 Mbwana Samatta downward-facing red arrow 69'
CF 21 Charles M'Mombwa Yellow card 61'
LW 11 Tarryn Allarakhia downward-facing red arrow 38'
Substitutions:
FW 12 Simon Msuva upward-facing green arrow 38'
MF 8 Morice Abraham upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 6 Feisal Salum upward-facing green arrow 69'
Coach:
Algeria 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 referees:
Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

DR Congo vs Zambia

[edit]

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. Note that some of the meetings included matches that DR Congo played as Zaire, and the 2-2 draw on Apr. 9, 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 equalized 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.

DR Congo 1–1 Zambia
Report
DR Congo
Zambia
GK 1 Lionel Mpasi
RB 24 Gédéon Kalulu Yellow card 90'
CB 22 Chancel Mbemba (c)
CB 2 Henoc Inonga Baka
LB 26 Arthur Masuaku
DM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy
RM 10 Théo Bongonda
CM 14 Gaël Kakuta downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 18 Charles Pickel
LM 20 Yoane Wissa downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
CF 17 Cédric Bakambu downward-facing red arrow 82'
Substitutions:
FW 13 Meschak Elia upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 23 Simon Banza upward-facing green arrow 82'
FW 11 Silas Katompa Mvumpa upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
Coach:
France Sébastien Desabre
GK 16 Lawrence Mulenga
RB 26 Tandi Mwape
CB 13 Stoppila Sunzu
CB 4 Frankie Musonda
LB 23 Rodrick Kabwe
DM 15 Kelvin Kapumbu
RM 8 Lubambo Musonda downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 22 Kings Kangwa downward-facing red arrow 90+4'
CM 12 Emmanuel Banda Yellow card 55'
LM 10 Fashion Sakala
CF 20 Patson Daka
Substitutions:
FW 9 Lameck Banda upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 11 Larry Bwalya upward-facing green arrow 90+4'
Coach:
Israel 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 referees:
Modibo Samaké (Mali)

Morocco vs DR Congo

[edit]

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 2022 FIFA World Cup 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 Katompa Mvumpa to hit the equalizer.

Morocco 1–1 DR Congo
Report
Morocco
DR Congo
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 5 Nayef Aguerd
CB 6 Romain Saïss (c)
LB 27 Mohamed Chibi
DM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
RM 7 Hakim Ziyech Yellow card 44' downward-facing red arrow 73'
CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi downward-facing red arrow 80'
CM 15 Selim Amallah Yellow card 40' downward-facing red arrow 64'
LW 17 Sofiane Boufal downward-facing red arrow 64'
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri downward-facing red arrow 80'
Substitutions:
FW 16 Abde Ezzalzouli upward-facing green arrow 64'
MF 23 Bilal El Khannous upward-facing green arrow 64'
FW 21 Amine Adli Yellow card 87' upward-facing green arrow 73'
FW 20 Ayoub El Kaabi upward-facing green arrow 80'
MF 10 Amine Harit upward-facing green arrow 80'
Coach:
Walid Regragui
GK 1 Lionel Mpasi
RB 24 Gédéon Kalulu
CB 22 Chancel Mbemba (c) Yellow card 90+8'
CB 2 Henoc Inonga Baka downward-facing red arrow 46'
LB 26 Arthur Masuaku
DM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy
RM 10 Théo Bongonda downward-facing red arrow 52'
CM 14 Gaël Kakuta downward-facing red arrow 64'
CM 18 Charles Pickel downward-facing red arrow 89'
LM 20 Yoane Wissa
CF 17 Cédric Bakambu downward-facing red arrow 52'
Substitutions:
DF 5 Dylan Batubinsika upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 13 Meschak Elia upward-facing green arrow 52'
FW 19 Fiston Mayele upward-facing green arrow 52'
FW 11 Silas Katompa Mvumpa upward-facing green arrow 64'
MF 6 Aaron Tshibola upward-facing green arrow 89'
Coach:
France Sébastien Desabre

Man of the Match:
Silas Katompa Mvumpa (DR Congo)

Zambia vs Tanzania

[edit]

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.

Zambia 1–1 Tanzania
Report
Zambia
Tanzania
GK 16 Lawrence Mulenga
RB 3 Benedict Chepeshi downward-facing red arrow 87'
CB 13 Stoppila Sunzu
CB 4 Frankie Musonda
LB 23 Rodrick Kabwe (c) Yellow card 33' Yellow-red card 44'
RM 10 Fashion Sakala downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 22 Kings Kangwa downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 15 Kelvin Kapumbu downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 12 Emmanuel Banda
LM 9 Lameck Banda Yellow card 45' downward-facing red arrow 86'
CF 20 Patson Daka
Substitutions:
MF 8 Lubambo Musonda upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 25 Kennedy Musonda upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 17 Clatous Chama upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 14 Edward Chilufya upward-facing green arrow 86'
DF 5 Miguel Chaiwa upward-facing green arrow 87'
Coach:
Israel Avram Grant
GK 18 Aishi Manula
RB 2 Haji Mnoga downward-facing red arrow 46'
CB 14 Bakari Mwamnyeto
CB 4 Ibrahim Hamad
LB 15 Mohamed Husseini
CM 7 Himid Mao downward-facing red arrow 70'
CM 19 Mzamiru Yassin
RW 12 Simon Msuva
AM 6 Feisal Salum downward-facing red arrow 59'
LW 22 Kibu Denis downward-facing red arrow 70'
CF 10 Mbwana Samatta (c)
Substitutions:
DF 16 Lusajo Mwaikenda upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 8 Morice Abraham upward-facing green arrow 59'
FW 21 Charles M'Mombwa upward-facing green arrow 70'
MF 3 Mudathir Yahya upward-facing green arrow 70'
Coach:
Algeria Adel Amrouche

Man of the Match:
Patson Daka (Zambia)

Tanzania vs DR Congo

[edit]

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.

Tanzania 0–0 DR Congo
Report
Tanzania
DR Congo
GK 18 Aishi Manula
RB 16 Lusajo Mwaikenda
CB 14 Bakari Mwamnyeto
CB 4 Ibrahim Hamad
LB 15 Mohammed Husseini
DM 20 Novatus Dismas
RM 2 Haji Mnoga
CM 7 Himid Mao downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 6 Feisal Salum downward-facing red arrow 79'
LM 12 Simon Msuva downward-facing red arrow 86'
CF 10 Mbwana Samatta (c) downward-facing red arrow 86'
Substitutions:
MF 19 Mzamiru Yassin upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 22 Kibu Denis upward-facing green arrow 79'
MF 8 Morice Abraham upward-facing green arrow 86'
MF 21 Charles M'Mombwa upward-facing green arrow 86'
Coach:
Hemed Suleiman Ali[note 1]
GK 1 Lionel Mpasi
RB 24 Gédéon Kalulu
CB 22 Chancel Mbemba (c)
CB 5 Dylan Batubinsika
LB 26 Arthur Masuaku
CM 18 Charles Pickel Yellow card 9' downward-facing red arrow 68'
CM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy
RW 11 Silas Katompa Mvumpa downward-facing red arrow 53'
AM 14 Gaël Kakuta downward-facing red arrow 87'
LW 20 Yoane Wissa
CF 19 Fiston Mayele downward-facing red arrow 68'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Meschak Elia upward-facing green arrow 53'
MF 6 Aaron Tshibola upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 17 Cédric Bakambu upward-facing green arrow 68'
MF 25 Omenuke Mfulu upward-facing green arrow 87'
Coach:
France 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 referees:
Mohamed Adel (Egypt)

Zambia vs Morocco

[edit]

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.

Zambia 0–1 Morocco
Report
Zambia
Morocco
GK 16 Lawrence Mulenga
RB 26 Tandi Mwape downward-facing red arrow 83'
CB 13 Stoppila Sunzu
CB 4 Frankie Musonda
LB 8 Lubambo Musonda (c)
CM 5 Fashion Sakala
CM 12 Emmanuel Banda
RW 14 Edward Chilufya downward-facing red arrow 71'
AM 25 Kennedy Musonda downward-facing red arrow 71'
LW 9 Lameck Banda
CF 20 Patson Daka
Substitutions:
MF 22 Kings Kangwa upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 10 Fashion Sakala upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 17 Clatous Chama upward-facing green arrow 83'
Coach:
Israel Avram Grant
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi Yellow card 81'
CB 5 Nayef Aguerd
CB 13 Yunis Abdelhamid
LB 25 Yahia Attiyat Allah
DM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
RM 7 Hakim Ziyech (c) downward-facing red arrow 45'
CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi downward-facing red arrow 84'
CM 11 Ismael Saibari downward-facing red arrow 68'
LM 17 Sofiane Boufal downward-facing red arrow 68'
CF 20 Ayoub El Kaabi downward-facing red arrow 73'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Amine Adli upward-facing green arrow 45'
MF 24 Amir Richardson upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 16 Abde Ezzalzouli upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 9 Tarik Tissoudali upward-facing green arrow 73'
MF 23 Bilal El Khannous upward-facing green arrow 84'
Coach:
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 referees:
Carine Atezambong (Cameroon)

Discipline

[edit]

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.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card
 Morocco 2 3 1 –6
 DR Congo 1 1 1 –3
 Zambia 1 1 1 –5
 Tanzania 3 1 –6

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tanzania manager Adel Amrouche was suspended for eight matches due to his offensive comments.[8] Assistant manager Hemed Suleiman Ali filled in as manager.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Olufemi, Damilola (12 October 2023). "FULL LIST: 2023 AFCON group draw". The Punch.
  2. ^ "WATCH LIVE: TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Official Draw". Confederation of African Football. 10 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Morocco vs Tanzania match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "DR Congo vs Zambia match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Morocco vs DR Congo match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Zambia vs Tanzania match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Tanzania vs DR Congo match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ^ https://www.cafonline.com/inside-caf/news/caf-disciplinary-board-outcomes-on-tanzania-fa-and-coach-adel-amrouche/
  9. ^ "Zambia vs Morocco match Report". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
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