Morocco to play Madagascar in the CHAN 2024 final at Kasarani
CHAN 2024: Moroccan players c𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 w𝐢𝐧 in the semi-finals match against Senegal 𝐚𝐧𝐝 q𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 f𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥. Morocco will play Madagascar in the final on August 30, 2025. Madagascar beat Sudan in the first semi-finals match. Courtesy photo
Morocco are back to Nairobi after edging Senegal 5–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw in Kampala on Tuesday.
The Atlas Lions trailed to Joseph Layousse’s 16th-minute header but levelled six(6) minutes later through Sabir Bougrine’s sharp finish.
All the scoring came in the first half. Extra time produced no further goals.
In the shoot-out, Morocco converted all five kicks to reach Saturday’s final.
A big second-half flashpoint briefly tilted against Morocco when defender Marouane Louadni was shown red.
After a VAR review, referee Sidi Alioum downgraded the decision to a yellow, keeping Morocco at full strength for the run-in and the shoot-out.
Senegal controlled long spells against Morocco and struck first from a set piece, but failed to press home the advantage.
Morocco’s equaliser arrived quickly, and Senegal couldn’t turn territory into clear chances late on.
In the lottery of penalties, Morocco were flawless and Senegal blinked.
That ruthlessness under pressure—plus the reprieve from VAR—was the difference.
Morocco's opponents at Kasarani will be Madagascar, who beat Sudan 1–0 after extra time in Dar es Salaam to reach a first CHAN final.
Rakotondramanana’s strike settled a tight semi that underlined Madagascar’s efficiency in knockout football.
The final is set for Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The match will kick-off at 6pm East African Time (EAT).
Group A games were in Nairobi, and the showpiece remains there. For Kenyans, this pairing stirs mixed feelings. Kenya beat Morocco in the group stage, a result that lit up the co-hosted tournament. Yet Madagascar ended Kenya’s run on penalties in the quarter-finals.
So the Nairobi final features one side Kenya felled and another that felled Kenya—exactly the cocktail to spark “what-if” chatter across terraces and timelines.
And what of Sudan—were they a real force or just fortunate quarter-final spoilers? Their campaign mixed grit and narrow margins.
They survived to the last four but lacked cutting edge against Madagascar, conceding in extra time after soaking up pressure.
Call it over-achievement more than luck--disciplined shape, brave defending, and tight scorelines carried them deep, until a smarter, sharper opponent finally picked the lock.
So, what are the odds in the final—stylistically, not the betting kind? Morocco bring tournament steel: resilient when chasing games, calm from the spot, and buoyed by a defence that bends but rarely breaks once VAR drama subsides.
Madagascar offer speed in transition, solid structure, and cold-blooded finishing when moments appear.
If Morocco score first, they can strangle the tempo. If Madagascar draw first blood, their counters can force Morocco’s full-backs into uncomfortable sprints to their own goal.
With Kasarani behind them and memories of Kenya’s group-stage win still echoing round the bowl, Morocco will fancy it—but underestimate this Madagascar side at your peril.
