Host nation Ivory Coast squeezed into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on the day it fired its coach, according to AP.
Morocco’s 1-0 win over Zambia in Group F on Wednesday ensured Ivory Coast finished as the fourth-best third-place team, thus just qualifying for the knockout stage.
Zambia’s defeat left the Copper Bullets with two points after three games, one fewer than Ivory Coast, which failed to secure its own progress when it was beaten 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in its final group game on Monday.
Morocco’s win set off unbridled celebrations in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast, where there were fireworks, supporters cheering in the streets and fans driving around honking their car horns. The Alassane Ouattara bridge linking the districts of Plateau and Cocody was illuminated in red and green, the colors of the Moroccan flag.
Morocco captain Hakim Ziyech became a local hero when he scored the only goal across four games Wednesday, firing in the rebound after Lawrence Mulenga saved Ayoub El Kaabi’s effort in the 37th.
Ivory Coast fired coach Jean-Louis Gasset earlier Wednesday.
Morocco finished top of Group F with seven points, four more than Congo, which also reached the last 16. Zambia and Tasmania, with two points each, were eliminated.
