Morocco win second Chan title after defeating Mali
Morocco won the Total African Nations Championship (Chan) for the second time by overcoming Mali’s bold challenge 2-0 in a thrilling final at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Sunday night.
Two second-half headers by Abdelmouna Boutouil and captain Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the victory for the Atlas Lions in the tournament in Cameroon to hand them the title.
The Atlas Lions repeated the success on home soil three years ago by a margin that hardly looked possible as the Eagles stood toe-to-toe with the favourites for over an hour.
Houcine Ammouta’s side became the first country to win a second successive title in the tournament designed exclusively for home-based players.
Mali also felt their luck deserted them, but ultimately Morocco ran out victorious to revive the memories of the 4-0 victory over Nigeria in the Chan 2018 final in Casablanca.
In one of the most exciting Chan finals of the modern era, played out to a soundtrack of African drums, Mali and Morocco delivered an enthralling spectacle that brought delight to football enthusiasts in the continent over the quality on display.
Little separated the two sides in a well contested first 15 minutes which lacked attacking display before El Kaabi ‘s header from a free-kick flashed across the face of the Mali goal.
Mali goalkeeper Djugui Diarra partly saved a tricky free-kick taken by Soufiane Rahimi from the edge of the box before defender Yacouba Doumbia cleared the danger.
The West Africans were not overawed by the situation and took advantage of the large space on the right side of the Atlas Lions defence vacated by the marauding Omar Namsaoui.
The Eagles should have opened the scoring when Mousaa Kone beat the Moroccan offside trap from the right side of the Morocco defence in the 23rd minute but goalkeeper Anas Zniti was quick off his mark to prevent the Stade Malien striker.
Mali grew in confidence and moments later talented playmaker Demba Diallo broke free after dispossessing Namsaoui before firing over the bar from 20 yards as they continued to pile the pressure on the North Africans.
Goalkeeper Diarra was called into action to confidently save a beautiful cross from Hafidi before a Diallo header in the 36th minute from a cross from the right went just wide.
The Moroccans regained their control of the game but the central defensive pair of Doumbia and Barou Sanogo dealt effectively with their long aerial balls before the break.
The Atlas Lions returned from the break and restarted the match in a similar fashion as they did at the start of the game by piling the pressure on the Malians.
Namibia’s U/20 football side Young Warriors arrived safely in Mauritania’s capital city Nouakchott, where they will continue with preparations for their maiden appearance at the Africa U/20 Cup of Nations (Afcon), which starts this weekend.
The continental youth tournament kicks off this weekend and runs until 4 March, and will see Namibia facing Group B opponents Burkina Faso, Tunisia and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Only the top two teams from each of the three pools and the two best-placed runnerups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Speaking to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) media desk from the team’s base in Mauritania, Warriors gaffer James Britz said: “We are currently waiting on the confirmation of friendlies from Mauritania because we only played a few friendlies back home in Namibia against the senior national team and that was not enough game time. We still need more friendly matches to prepare the boys as our initial plan was to have four to six friendlies prior to the competition but due to Covid-19 restrictions and other unforeseen circumstances, we will settle for three.”
Britz said the spirit in the camp looks great and the new players in the squad are adjusting well and getting along with the rest of the group.
“Everyone is on a common mission and that is to try to reach the semifinals against all odds.”
Namibia will start their campaign with a clash against CAR on Saturday, before moving on to face Tunisia on 18 February in their second group match.
Their last group action will be against Burkina Faso on 21 February.
Last week, Britz had indicated that he had kept the core of last year’s Cosafa Cup finalists and during the December holidays, he brought in an additional 20 players from the regions but only 10 of those made the list of 29.
The 29-manYoung Warriors squad: Tully Nashixua, Immanuel Hamunyela, Denzil Narib, Pitsi Ameb, Romeo Amon, Xavier Mcclune, Edmar Kamatuka, Carl Tjipe Karuuombe, Rio Goagoseb,
Ronin Brendt, Amazing Kandjii (Khomas), Steven Damaseb, Prins Tjiueza, Promise Gurirab, Herman Uwuseb, Tuhafeni Ananias,
Gerson Paulus (Erongo), Ngazikue Kandetu, Ruhuka Ngatangwe (Omaheke),
Mwanyekange Matheus (Omusati), Josef Erastus (Oshana), Juninho Jantze (Hardap), Eubrahim Apollus (//Kharas), Giovani Kaninab, Gonzales Tsuseb (Kunene), Ngero Katua, Garere Damaseb, Jovane Narib, Phillip Joseph (Otjozondjupa).
- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na