Fridays 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers saw comfortable wins for North African heavyweights Egypt and Morocco, while reigning champions Ivory Coast had to work hard for a 2-0 triumph at home to Zambia.
The Elephants, who are the reigning AFCON champions, just about got the better of Chipolopolo in one of five night matches on the day, with Jean-Philippe Krassos second-half brace proving enough to secure them all three points in their Group G clash in Bouake.
Egypt proved far too powerful for Cape Verde in the teams Group C meeting at the Cairo International Stadium, claiming a 3-0 triumph thanks to goals from Rami Rabia, Omar Marmoush and Ibrahim Adel.
Morocco who will host the 2025 AFCON thrashed Gabon 4-1 in a Group B match in Agadir. There were four penalties in the first half: Hakim Ziyech scored twice from the spot for the Atlas Lions, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed one and converted one, as the hosts were 2-1 up at the break.
Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi then made the game safe for the North Africans with their second-half goals.
