IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - CHAN FINAL
Morocco win their 3rd CHAN trophy after explosive final with Madagascar.
Very few final games in African football have matched the quality of the denouement of the 8th TotalEnergies CAF CHAN KE.TZ.UG 2024. In fact, from the guests of honor (Kenya President William Ruto, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe), the scoring of the goal of the tournament by the highest goalscorer, Oussama Lamlioui and 46 thousand fans in attendance, it was an afternoon at the Kasarani Stadium that will forever be remembered.
Morocco walked out of the locker room with the report card of two previous wins and an overwhelming fraction of the turnout in their favor as the Kenyans still grudged Madagascar for eliminating their team in the quarterfinals. While Madagascar in their first-ever CHAN final counted on their handful of fans flown in on two planes to cheer them who were going to miss the services of three key players on grounds of disciplinery sanctions. But the handicap was immediately shoved aside when Fosa Juniors' Felicite Clavin, in his first game in the tournament, found the far angle with a well-knit volley from outside the box. The ninth minute goal was as a result of great combination between himself, Rafa Nomena and then Mika Nantenaina. Moroccan reply came in on 27 minutes through RS Berkane's Youssef Mehri when he headed Khadid Baba's assist past the experienced keeper Michel Ramandimbisoa Toldo. The equalizer helped step up Moroccan resolve as they took control of the game to score the second goal in the 44th minute. It was to the credit of BS Berkane's Oussama Lamlioui who in connecting a lob by Mohamed Boulascout was scoring his fifth in the tournament . Malagasy fans certainly heaved a sigh of relief when Andy Nantenaina who plays for clubside Disciples FC made it 2-2 in the 68th minute. And then cometh the 80th minute when the excellent keeper Toldo, after resuming play was still to find his position at goal. But the vigilant Oussama Lamlioui belted a volley from the edge of the center circle to confound Toldo and registered his second goal on the night, the sixth in the tournament. At full time, Morocco carried the day, 3/2 and Oussama Lamlioui named the mvp of the game.
In the tournament awards, Oussama Lamlioui from RS Berkane of Morocco was named the golden boot with six goals, Senegal took the Fairplay trophy, Senegalese Marc Phillips Arona Diouf of Teungueth FC was the golden gloves recipient, and Morocco captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat of ASFAR was knighted the golden ball winner. Morocco coach Tarik Sektioui won his third African nations Championship after 2018 and 2020 !
As the curtains fell on the 8th CHAN whose success is simply unassailable, hearts began beating ahead of the early September FIFA window during which the last two playing days of qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played.