By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 17^th 2025)

Group A Matchday 5

It was crunch time in Group A – Zambia was already eliminated, so the Chipolopolo had nothing but pride to play for – that and identifying some talent for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Avram Grant had indicated that he had identified some players at the CHAN that he intended to utilise in Morocco four months from now, but with Kenya looking certain to qualify for the knockout phase – the position in the group was still in question, the go-to match was the Leopards versus the Atlas Lions.

Morocco performed when it mattered most, securing a 3-1 victory that sent the Democratic Republic of Congo – twice winners of the African Nations Championship – packing. Needing a victory to edge Morocco out the DRC conceded first, after just 8 minutes. Youssef Belammari’s pass from the left of the area was converted by Oussama Lamlioui from close range with a sublime backheel, meaning that the Leopards had to score twice without conceding to progress. Imad Raihi was fortunate to escape a caution for dissent when he suggested that the referee should use his eyes after penalising him – correctly – for a foul on Ibrahim Matobo Mubala on the edge of the area.

Nevertheless, the Leopards fought back to secure parity after 43 minutes through Jephté Kitambala after Mubala’s cross was nodded on into his path. However, it was Morocco who stepped up a gear in the second half. Just under midway through the second half a foul on Khalid Baba by Magloire Kalonji was missed by the referee to the obvious bewilderment of Morocco’s coach Tariq Sektioui– it was a clear and obvious error. This was exactly what VAR was meant to correct and it did. Morocco’s captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The Atlas Lions sealed their spot in the quarter-final after 80 minutes when Lamlioui scored his second – Youssef Mehri provided the assist. There was still time for Lamlioui to claim his hat-trick, less than five minutes later only for VAR to correctly disallow it as the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

The Atlas Lions was through to the quarter-finals – they would face unbeaten co-hosts, Tanzania in Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Kenya secured top spot in Group A and a quarter-final against Madagascar after a 1-0 victory of the Chipolopolo who left East Africa’s CHAN after a literally pointless disastrous campaign thanks to Ryan Ogam’s winner after 75 minutes. Zambia delivered an improved performance, but it was not enough to thwart Benni McCarthy’s resurgent Harambee Stars from joining co-hosts Tanzania in the quarter-finals while retaining home advantage for topping their group.

Ogam seized his chance after Boniface Muchiri’s skilful work on the right flank created space for him to cross and invite Ogam to control the ball and slot it past Zambian goalkeeper, Charles Kalumba. It proved to be the winner and settled the 27,000 strong crowd at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium.

Zambia’s goalkeeper, Kalumba distinguished himself with a stellar performance that will have done his AFCON chances no harm and will give Toaster Nsabata, currently unable to get regular football with his South African club, Sekhukhune United, food for thought. Kenya topped Group A with ten points, one ahead of second placed Morocco. The Leopards went home with 6 points, two ahead of Angola’s Palancas Negras while Zambia propped up the group with four defeats out of four. Despite Avram Grant’s upbeat view that there were some positives, it remained hard to deny that this was a disastrous showing from the once mighty Chipolopolo.