CHAN2024: Morocco's massive victory eliminate Zambia to boost quarters hopes
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 14.08.25. | 19:18
The result lifts Morocco to second place in the group on six points, boosting their quarter-final hopes, while Zambia’s defeat confirmed their early exit with a game to spare
Two-time African Nations Championship (CHAN) winners Morocco reignited their campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Zambia in a pulsating Group A encounter at Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday evening.
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Goals in either half from captain Mohamed Hirmat and super-subs Oussama Lamlioui and Sabir Bougrine were enough to steer the Atlas Lions back to winning ways, though Andrew Phiri’s quick reply for Zambia set up a tense finale.
The result lifts Morocco to second place in the group on six points, boosting their quarter-final hopes, while Zambia’s defeat confirmed their early exit with a game to spare.
As expected, the match kicked off at a frenetic pace, with both sides desperate for maximum points.
Morocco, the more enterprising team early on, threatened in the fifth minute when Youssef Mehri’s strike forced Red Arrows defender Owen Tembo into a crucial clearance.
Moments later, Youssef Belammari’s teasing cross was bravely intercepted by Happy Nsiku, denying a certain goal.
Zambia’s goalkeeper, Francis Mwansa, proved pivotal in keeping the score level during the opening stages.
In a remarkable 13th-minute sequence, the Zanaco shot-stopper made three consecutive saves, first parrying Belammari’s delivery, then denying Mehri, and finally keeping out Marouane Louadni’s rebound.
Morocco continued to press, with Ait Khalid squandering two clear chances, first firing wide after a precise through ball from Belammari, then directing a loose ball straight into Mwansa’s gloves. Mohamed Boulacsout also came close with a whipped cross that eluded everyone.
Backed by a vociferous Kenyan crowd, Zambia’s first real attempt arrived in the 25th minute through Mathews Banda, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Almehdi Al Harrar in the Moroccan goal.
Morocco responded with more pressure, Belammari blasting wide in the 34th minute before Nsiku once again came to Zambia’s rescue with a goal-line clearance from Louadni’s header.
Just as the half seemed destined to end goalless, Morocco found the breakthrough in the 45th minute.
A well-worked move saw Mehri cut the ball back to Hirmat, whose thunderous volley crashed into the roof of the net, sending the Atlas Lions into the break 1-0 up.
Coach Tarek Sektioui’s decision to introduce Oussama Lamlioui after the interval paid dividends.
The CAF Confederation Cup joint top scorer almost doubled the lead early in the half, only to be denied by Mwansa. Zambia nearly equalised on the hour mark, but Banda’s shot from the edge of the box drifted wide.
In the 63rd minute, Zambia thought they had levelled when Nsiku headed home from a John Chisimba cross, but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Three minutes later, Morocco struck again through Lamlioui, who rose highest to nod in Mehri’s pinpoint delivery for 2-0.
The joy was short-lived for Morocco as Zambia responded within two minutes.
Substitute Andrew Phiri capitalised on a poorly cleared header to fire past Al Harrar, halving the deficit and breathing life into Zambia’s challenge.
Coach Avram Grant threw on fresh attacking legs, including Fredrick Mulamba, in search of an equaliser.
Zambia twice came agonisingly close in the closing stages, Mulamba’s free-kick skimmed the crossbar, and Chanda’s late strike was acrobatically tipped over by Al Harrar.
In the closing stages, Morocco added the third through Sabir Bougrine to put the game beyond reach for hard-fighting Zambia and secure the much-needed win.
The victory keeps Morocco firmly in the hunt for a quarter-final place, needing only a positive result in their final group match to advance.
For Zambia, the loss ends their CHAN journey prematurely, with pride the only stake in their concluding fixture against Kenya on Sunday,17 August at Kasarani Stadium.
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