In a captivating encounter at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) played at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Morocco emerged victorious over Zambia with a commanding 3-1 win, reigniting their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
The match, played in front of an electric crowd, featured exhilarating moments and fierce competition, showcasing the best of African football. From the opening whistle, Morocco demonstrated their attacking intent, applying relentless pressure on the Zambian defense.
The breakthrough came just before halftime when Mohamed Hrimat delivered the much-desired goal in the additional minutes. His right-footed strike from the centre of the box found the top right corner, expertly assisted by Youssef Mehri, who capitalized on a corner kick. With this late goal, Morocco went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
As the second half commenced, both teams sought to create more chances. Morocco’s Oussama Lamlaoui showcased his skills early on, narrowly missing a shot that was saved by Zambian goalkeeper Francis Mwansa.
Zambia thought they had equalized in the 65th minute after a long-range throw-in, but their joy was short-lived as VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for offside.
This pivotal moment allowed Morocco to regain their composure, and once again, it was Lamlaoui who played a key role doubling Morocco’s lead in the 66th minute with a powerful header that sent fans into a frenzy.
Zambia, showing their fighting spirit, continued to battle, and Phiri found the net in the 70th minute, squeezing a shot past the Moroccan defense to bring the game to 2-1.
But Morocco was not to be deterred. In the dying moments of the match, Sabir Bougrine provided the final flourish, scoring in the 90+5 minute with a right-footed shot from inside the box, sealing the 3-1 victory.
As the final whistle blew, Morocco celebrated their hard-fought win, bringing their points tally to 6 in Group A, positioning themselves for a potential quarterfinal spot.
With Kenya currently leading the group with 7 points, the stakes are high as Morocco eyes progression in the tournament. Zambia, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle after suffering three losses, leaving them out of contention for the knockout stages.
Their final group match against Kenya Harambee Stars on Sunday, 18th, in Kasarani will serve as a chance for redemption, albeit with no hope of advancing.
