By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 14^th 2025)

Group A Matchday 4

While Avram Grant impersonates Polyanna, the problems with the Chipolopolo’s CHAN campaign were laid bare this afternoon at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. Morocco’s Atlas Lions easily beat Zambia 3-1. Morocco’s captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat opened the scoring two minutes into added time at the end of the first half after he had been found in the area by Youssef Mehri’s corner. It was no less than the Atlas Lions’ persistence deserved.

Despite Grant’s protests – he couldn’t see the offence – VAR disallowed Happy Nsiku’s 65^th minute equaliser for Zambia foul in the build-up. Grant’s misery was compounded by Oussama Lamlaoui opening his account at this edition of the CHAN with a header after 66 minutes – Mehri delivered the cross for his second assist of the match.

Four minutes later Andrew Phiri pulled one back for Zambia after a goalmouth scramble, prompting an exciting final 20 minutes as Zambia chased the match knowing that they needed a victory to ignite their CHAN campaign.

Sabir Bougrine, a substitute introduced after 85 minutes justified Tariq Sektioui’s faith by restoring comfort for the Atlas Lions after 5 minutes of added time – Lamlaoui’s shot was parried by Zambia’s keeper, Francis Mwansa and Bougrine slotted the rebound in.

The gulf between the teams had been starkly exposed. I had been due to attend this match – my first of the CHAN, but due to a mix-up the second of the day was the first that I attended –

Angola v Democratic Republic of Congo.

Both the Palancas Negras and the Leopards needed a result to reignite their faltering campaigns, especially now that the second seeded team of Group A, Zambia had been eliminated with three losses out of three. Zambia had nothing but pride to play for against the Harambee Stars, who had raised the hopes of a nation under Benni McCarthy after the disappointment of Engin Firhat’s latest spell in charge of Kenya. The Leopards won 2-0 – Jephté Kitambala Bola opened the scoring after 13 minutes of the second half heading in Âgée Basiala’s precise freekick. Substitute Jonathan Mokonzi Katumbwe doubled their lead after 70 minutes – also a header with an assist from Basiala whose performance is sure to attract interest from watching scouts. The DRC’s win eliminated Angola and set up a winner takes all match against Morocco on August 17^th.