Defending champions Morocco outplayed Zambia 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship on Sunday and end Cosafa interest in the tournament in Cameroon.
Zambia were on the back foot after conceding twice inside the opening eight minutes after conceding and played most of the game down to 10 men, following fellow Cosafa members Namibia and Zimbabwe out of the competition.
Morocco went ahead in the second minute at the Reunification Stadium in Douala as poor defending by the Zambians allowed Soufiane Rahimi a tap-in.
They were 2-0 up in the eighth minute as an unmarked Mohammed Ali Bemammer headed home from a corner after goalkeeper Allan Chibwe mistimed an attempt to punch clear the ball.
Zambian woes continued in the 20th minute as they were reduced to 10 men after Zechariah Chilongoshi was sent off for a studs-high challenged. A first, the referee cautioned him but then changed the colour from yellow to red after consulting VAR.
It got even worse six minutes from half-time, with the contest effectively over, when Paul Katema handled the ball and Morocco’s captain Ayoub El Kaabi made no mistake with the resultant penalty.
Substitute Moses Phiri pulled a goal back for Zambia after 79 minutes when he beat Morocco’s goalkeeper Amas Zniti.
Morocco will now face hosts Cameroon at the semi-final stage on February 3rd at Limbe.
