By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 3^rd 2025)

Group B

After Tanzania took pole position in Group B with their 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso, Madagascar, the surprise package of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2019 met Mauritania for the first time in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) Finals at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Apart from Madagascar’s veteran goalkeeper, nicknamed Toldo after former Italian keeper Francesco Toldo producing some saves to keep the score down, there was little to recommend this match, although VAR made its presence felt, resulting in a decision to award a penalty for handball being overturned after it emerged that the ball struck the Tony’s body before his hand.

Madagascar’s captain Dax (Andriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianarimanana) was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Mohamed El Abd Sidi Ahmed with 7 minutes of the first half remaining. Nevertheless, Madagascar put the ball in the net, but it was disallowed for offside.

Tanzania remain top of the group after the first round of matches – the Central African Republic have yet to begin their campaign.

Group A

Meanwhile the 8^th CHAN began in Kenya. Kenya opened their campaign under South African legend Benni McCarthy at the Moi International Sports Centre, aka the Kasarani Stadium against previous winners, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The scheduled AFCON 2027 co-hosts won 1-0, although only Carlo Mkwonzi will know how he failed to score when he headed wide from point blank range when unmarked.

Two minutes into first half stoppage time Austin Odhiambo scored a fine solo goal to give the Harambee Stars the lead. They held on to win 1-0 and top the group – briefly. Morocco – one of the tournament’s favourites – beat Angola 2-0 at the Nyayo International Stadium to top Group A after the first round of matches.

The Atlas Lions arrived early in a bid to acclimatise to the local conditions. They dominated Angola in their opening match. Imad Riahi’s long-range strike opened the scoring in the first half. Morocco was not flattered by their second, an own goal by Kinito. Tariq Sektioui saw his charges extend Morocco’s unbeaten run in the CHAN finals to 14 matches – they were the better side and established themselves as one of the teams to beat.