CHAN 2024: Kenya and Morocco Secure Quarter-Final Spots
Kenya and Morocco both advanced to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 following decisive victories in their final group matches on Sunday. Here is a wrap of all the action.
Kenya Claims Top Spot with Narrow Win
At the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya showcased their dominance by defeating Zambia. The match was tightly contested until the 75th minute, when substitute Boniface Muchiri delivered a pinpoint cross that Ryan Ogam expertly converted, slotting the ball past Zambian goalkeeper Charles Kalumba. This goal sent the 27,000-strong home crowd into a frenzy and ensured Kenya finished the group stage unbeaten with 10 points.
Kenya’s head coach, Benni McCarthy, expressed pride in his team’s performance, emphasizing their status as serious title contenders. “When everybody said ‘Group of Death,’ we found ourselves sitting on top of the mountain,” he said, referring to the team’s impressive results against Morocco and DR Congo earlier in the tournament.
Despite Zambia’s struggles, ending their campaign without a point, coach Avram Grant highlighted the positives of the experience for his new team. The Chipolopolo managed to create chances but were unable to capitalize, with Kenyan goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo making crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet.
Morocco Advances with Strong Performance
In the other Group A decider, Morocco faced DR Congo in a match that held high stakes for both teams. The Atlas Lions took an early lead through Oussama Lamlaoui, who scored from close range in the eighth minute. DR Congo responded just before halftime, with Jephté Kitambala equalizing in the 43rd minute.
The second half saw Morocco regain control when Mohamed Hrimat converted a penalty in the 66th minute following a VAR review. Lamlaoui added a second goal in the 80th minute, sealing the match at 3-1 and ensuring Morocco’s progression as group runners-up with nine points.
Despite their spirited efforts, DR Congo’s campaign ended in disappointment, unable to secure enough points to advance. Their exit marks a stark contrast to their previous successes in the tournament, having won the title twice.
Quarter-Final Matchups
With the completion of Group A, Kenya will now face Madagascar in the quarter-finals, while Morocco prepares to take on Tanzania.
