AFCON Highlights: Goals and Performances in Morocco

Key Performances in the Tournament

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mané found the back of the net for the first time in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Morocco. Additionally, Christian Kofane and Eliesse Ben Seghir made their tournament debuts as the group stage’s second round wrapped up on Sunday.

Aubameyang’s Return and Mozambique’s Historic Win

Former Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang scored in AFCON for the first time since 2017, marking his return to the competition after a lengthy absence. Unfortunately for Gabon, they suffered a defeat at the hands of Mozambique, who achieved their inaugural win in AFCON’s history during a thrilling match that ended with five goals.

Group Standings and Tournament Updates

Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire ended their matchday two encounter with a 1-1 draw, keeping both teams at the summit of their group. Kofane made his debut for Cameroon, replacing Karl Etta Eyong, the hero in the previous match against Gabon, while Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig took to the field for Côte d’Ivoire.

From Group E, Algeria secured a spot in the Round of 16 after a narrow victory over Burkina Faso. Riyad Mahrez scored his third goal of the tournament, placing him atop the scoring charts. In a matchup featuring teammates from Bayer Leverkusen, Edmond Tapsoba faced off against Ibrahim Maza, while Algerian players Mohamed Amoura, Ramy Bensebaini, and Farès Chaïbi also contributed to the team’s efforts.

The former champions from 1970, Sudan, triumphed over Equatorial Guinea due to an unfortunate own goal from their opponents.

Ben Seghir’s Debut and Morocco’s Strong Position

The host nation, Morocco, is close to securing their advancement to the knockout stage after drawing with Mali. From penalty kicks, Brahim Diaz and Lassine Sinayoko both scored for Morocco, marking their second goals in consecutive matches. Bilal El Khannouss and Ben Seghir were introduced off the bench in the final 20 minutes of the game.

In a separate fixture, Zambia and Comoros played to the tournament’s first goalless draw. Myziane Maolida, a former Hertha BSC player, had a potential winner disallowed by VAR for a foul that occurred in the buildup. Lubambo Musonda from Magdeburg again played a full match for Zambia.

Kenyan midfielder Jonah Fabisch, who is currently facing relegation concerns with Erzgebirge Aue in the 3. Liga, participated fully in Zimbabwe’s draw against Angola.

Late Game Drama

Knowledge Musona, who is appearing in his fourth AFCON tournament, redeemed Zimbabwe by scoring a late equalizer. Meanwhile, in a closely contested match, Egypt narrowly defeated South Africa amid multiple VAR interventions.

Matchday two also featured a notable encounter between Tunisia and Nigeria, where the three-time champions fought hard to secure a 3-2 victory, thereby confirming their place in the Round of 16. Although Ellyes Skhiri didn’t make it onto the scoresheet this time, Ismaël Gharbi played the final 15 minutes of the match. The East African derby saw Tanzania and Uganda settle for a 1-1 stalemate.

On the cusp of qualifying from Group D, Senegal and DR Congo both appear likely to advance after earning four points apiece. Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson benefited from Mané’s timely equalizer, while Benin improved their qualification chances through a 1-0 victory over Botswana.

As we approach the final round of group stage matches, scheduled for the last three days of 2025, the four best third-placed teams will join the top two from each group in the Round of 16.