Morocco down Zambia as CHAN quarter-final race heats up

Two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo reignited their African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaigns on Thursday, securing vital victories over Zambia and Angola to stay on course for the knockout stages.

At Nyayo National Stadium, Morocco eventually made their pressure count, defeating Zambia 3–1. The Atlas Lions controlled the opening exchanges and carved out three clear chances but couldn’t convert until first-half stoppage time, when captain Mohamed Hrimat glanced in Youssef Mehri’s outswinging corner to break the deadlock.

Zambia thought they had restored parity on 65 minutes through Happy Nsiku, only for VAR to rule the effort out due to an infringement in the build-up. Morocco struck again almost immediately: Oussama Lamlaoui pounced amid the defensive uncertainty to make it 2–0. Substitute Andrew Phiri gave the Chipolopolo hope with a neat finish on 70 minutes, but Morocco sealed the result in added time as midfielder Sabir Bougrine drove home a late third.

The win lifts Morocco to second in Group A on six points, one behind leaders Kenya.

Earlier, fellow two-time champions DR Congo ended Angola’s quarter-final ambitions with a professional 2–0 success. After a tight opening 45 minutes, the Leopards found another gear after the interval: Jephte Kitambala broke the resistance before Mokonzi Katumbwe added a composed second to complete the job. Angola—2011 runners-up—needed a win in their final group match to challenge Kenya at the summit, but the second-half double closed that door.

With those results, DR Congo sit level on six points with Morocco, setting up a tantalizing group finale on Sunday between the two continental heavyweights. Kenya face Zambia in the day’s other fixture, a clash that will decide the remaining quarter-final places.