Zambia, coming off a dramatic 1-1 draw against Mali, entered the match as favorites but found it difficult to dismantle a well-organized Comoros side. The result leaves the Chipolopolo with two points from two matches, making their upcoming clash against tournament hosts Morocco a "do-or-die" encounter.
VAR Drama Denies Comoros The biggest talking point of the match arrived in the 19th minute. Comoros striker Myziane Maolida appeared to have tapped into an empty net following a brilliant solo run by Rafiki Said. However, after a lengthy VAR review, referee Ahmad Heeralall disallowed the goal due to a foul by Yacine Bourhane on Zambia’s Owen Tembo during the build-up.
Lack of Bite from Chipolopolo Zambia’s star man, Patson Daka, was kept largely quiet by the Comorian center-back pairing. While Avram Grant’s men dominated the final 20 minutes with high crosses and set-piece pressure, they lacked the creativity to create clear-cut chances. Lubambo Musonda had the best opportunity late on but fired his effort high over the bar.
What’s Next? Zambia will travel to Rabat to face Morocco in their final group game, needing a result to ensure qualification. Meanwhile, Comoros remains alive in the competition with one point and will look to stun Mali in their final fixture to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages.