David GOMBE
Morocco ended co-hosts Tanzania’s TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
The North African side sealed their place in the semi-finals for the third time in tournament history.
Striker Oussama Lamlaoui scored the all important goal in the second half as the Atlas Lions prevailed at the packed Benjamin Mkapa on Friday.
The two-time champions held on to their slim lead that saw them secure a place in the last four despite the absence of key defenders Bouchaib El Arsi, Marouane El Ouedni, and Abdelhak Assal.
Victory over Tanzania is also Morocco’s seventh consecutive victory in the knockout stages of CHAN since 2014, underlining their status as one of the tournament’s most consistent forces.
Tanzania exit with pride
Co-hosts Tanzania can take heart from a campaign that broke barriers.
The Taifa Stars topped Group B and reached the quarter-finals for the first time in history.
Co-host Tanzania conceded just two goals in the five matches they played at the event in East Africa.
Morocco will now prepare for a semi-final showdown, aiming to emulate their title-winning runs of 2018 and 2020. They will either face Uganda or defending champions Senegal in the semifinal.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s dream run at their debut TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended in heartbreak on Friday as Madagascar held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals.
The Harambee Stars, roared on by a partisan Kasarani crowd, were bidding to reach their first continental semi-final in 38 years.
But after a tense 1-1 draw across 120 minutes, Madagascar prevailed 4-3 on spot-kicks, with Toky Rakotondraibe converting the decisive kick that ended Kenya’s CHAN carnival after Alphonce Omija missed for the hosts.
Alphonce Omija had given the Kenyans the lead just three minutes into the second half before Madagascar regrouped in the 66th minute.
Lewis Bandi handled the ball in the forbidden area before Fenohasina Razafimaro netted from the spot, to level matters.
Madagascar progressed to the semifinal after a tense 4-3 shootout win as Kenya bowed out from their co-hosted event. Madagascar will await the winner between Sudan and Algeria who face off on Saturday in the last quarterfinal.
