Morocco qualified Sunday for the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) by largely beating Zambia 3 to 1. The defending champion will face Cameroon, who beat the previous day DR Congo.
Morocco did not tremble. The defending champion won Sunday, January 31 against Zambia in the quarter-finals of CHAN-2020 * (3-1), at the Reunification Stadium in Douala. A victory that will allow him to find Cameroon, host country of this edition, on Wednesday for a semi-final at the top.
The Atlas Lions have folded the entry match. Sofiane Rahimi, found in depth by Abdelilah Hafidi, perfectly deceives the Zambian goalkeeper with a flat foot from the 38th second. The VAR confirms that the winger was not offside (1st, 1-0).
Mohammed Ali Bamaamar doubled down moments later. On a corner taken by Hafidi, Allan Chibwe completely misses his exit and the Moroccan number 6 then only has to send the ball into the net (8th, 2-0).
Zambia completely missed their start, like their midfielder Zachariah Chilongoshi. Already at fault on the first goal, he is the author of a very ugly sole on the knee of the decisive Moroccan double passer. Red card: he is forced to leave his teammates prematurely.
A reduction in the score in the second period
With over an hour to play outnumbered, Zambia do not want to sink and are playing their game while leaning on their wingers. She misses to return to the match on a header from Sautu who spins next (28th). Before a penalty, converted by the Moroccan captain Ayoub El Kaabi, put an end to his meager hopes just before half-time (38th, 3-0).
In the second half, while the Moroccans lower their footing, the Zambians push to save the honor. Efforts that were rewarded at the end of the match since the Chipolopolo reduced the score thanks to Moses Phiri (80th, 3-1).
Insufficient however. For the third consecutive time, Zambia therefore fails in the quarter-finals of CHAN. Morocco offers him a beautiful semi-final against Cameroon: title holder against host country.
* The African Football Confederation has decided that the competition will continue to be called TOTAL African Nations Championship Cameroon 2020, despite the tournament being postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19.
