Two-time champions Morocco sealed their passage to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with a 3-1 victory over DR Congo at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday.
The Atlas Lions’ win confirmed their place alongside hosts Kenya, who edged Zambia 1-0 at Kasarani in the other Group A decider to finish top of the pool. Morocco’s triumph saw them secure second spot, leaving DR Congo eliminated.
Heading into the final round of group fixtures, the stakes were finely poised. Kenya sat narrowly ahead on seven points, while Morocco and DR Congo — both previous winners of the tournament — trailed closely on six each. For the Congolese, only victory would suffice.
They began with intent, but Morocco struck first. Oussama Lamlaoui put the Lions ahead in the eighth minute, tucking home Youssef Belammari’s cross. Congo rallied, equalising just before half-time through Jephté Kitambala’s scrappy finish to keep their hopes alive.
The contest turned after the break. A foul on Khalid Baba inside the area prompted a VAR review, and Mohamed Hrimat converted the resulting penalty with emphatic precision in the 66th minute. With the Leopards forced to chase, Morocco’s composure told. Lamlaoui completed his brace in the 80th minute, calmly finishing Youssef Mehri’s cut-back to make it 3-1.
Though VAR later denied Morocco a fourth for offside, the outcome was beyond doubt. Despite late changes and pressure, DR Congo could not mount a response, their campaign ending in frustration.
