Morocco reignited their African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Zambia on Thursday, ending the Copper Bullets’ faint hopes of progressing from Group A.

Two-time champions Morocco, who had stumbled to a 1-0 loss against hosts Kenya in their previous outing, bounced back in style at the Nyayo National Stadium. Goals from Mohamed Hrimat, Oussama Lamlaoui and Sabir Bougrine secured the crucial win, keeping the Atlas Lions in contention for a quarter-final spot.

The North Africans dominated from the start, with Khalid Aït Ouarkhane, Abdelhak Assal and Youssef Mehri all forcing Zambia goalkeeper Francis Mwansa into early saves. Their pressure finally told in first-half stoppage time when Mehri’s corner was met by Hrimat, who rifled home a superb right-footed strike to open the scoring.

Zambia briefly thought they were back in the game in the 65th minute after Happy Nsiku bundled the ball over the line, but VAR ruled it out for a foul in the build-up. Just moments later, Morocco doubled their lead when Mehri’s pinpoint cross was nodded in by Lamlaoui.

Avram Grant’s side pulled one back five minutes later through substitute Andrew Phiri, who capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to give Zambia a lifeline. However, as they pushed for an equaliser, Morocco struck again in stoppage time — Bougrine firing home after Lamlaoui’s effort was parried by Mwansa.

Mehri’s creativity proved decisive, providing two assists and linking play throughout, while Lamlaoui’s movement and Hrimat’s midfield control were key to Morocco’s dominance. For Zambia, Phiri’s lively cameo was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing night marked by defensive lapses at set-pieces.

The victory puts Morocco back in the mix for a knockout berth ahead of their final group match, while Zambia, with three straight defeats, will play for pride only. The other Group A clash between Angola and DR Congo was scheduled for later in the evening.

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The dust had barely settled in Zanzibar when the football world began to grasp the magnitude of what had just happened. Sudan — a side often regarded as outsiders on the continental stage — had dismantled Nigeria’s locally-based Super Eagles 4–0, knocking them out of CHAN PAMOJA 2024 with a game to spare. 

In one night, they turned the script upside down, leaving pundits searching for explanations and fans replaying the goals in disbelief.

It wasn’t just the scoreline. It was the manner: disciplined defending, lethal finishing, and a collective unity that rendered Nigeria’s pedigree meaningless.

Abdel Raouf Yagoub’s brace, combined with a Leonard Ngenge own goal and Walieldin Khdir’s emphatic penalty, told the story on paper. But the real tale was one of precision, patience, and an underdog refusing to be intimidated.

This seismic result will go down as one of the competition’s biggest shocks — but it is far from the only one.

Since its inception in 2009, the African Nations Championship (CHAN) has specialised in rewriting football’s pecking order. 

With squads made up exclusively of players active in their domestic leagues, the tournament offers the perfect breeding ground for surprise results and unforgettable moments.

From finals routs to group-stage ambushes, the underdogs have risen time and again. And just as Sudan’s latest victory has carved its place in CHAN folklore, here are five of the most remarkable upsets in the tournament’s history.

Morocco 4–0 Nigeria – 2018 Final

Nigeria came into the 2018 CHAN final in Casablanca with hope, belief, and a solid run of form. Morocco, the host nation, were favourites — but few expected the Atlas Lions to dismantle the Super Eagles with such authority.

Before Sudan’s 4-0 win over Nigeria, the Super Eagles B have earlier lost 4-0 to Morocco in 2018.

In a rain-lashed stadium, Morocco’s relentless attack tore through Nigeria’s defense. Every Moroccan surge forward felt like it could result in a goal, and it often did.

The final whistle confirmed a record-breaking 4–0 victory — the largest margin ever seen in a CHAN final — and left Nigeria humbled on one of the biggest nights of their domestic-based football history.

Morocco 4–0 Cameroon (Hosts) – 2020 Semi-final

Facing a host nation in any tournament is rarely easy. Facing Cameroon in Limbe, with the home crowd roaring, is even harder. Yet Morocco turned what could have been a tense semi-final into another statement performance.

The Moroccans are 4-0 specialists as they humbled Cameroon 4-0 on their home ground.

The Atlas Lions silenced the Indomitable Lions with pace, accuracy, and a clinical edge that left the stands stunned.

By the final whistle, it was another 4–0 scoreline in Morocco’s favour — their second such demolition of a major side in CHAN history — and a ticket booked to yet another final.

Senegal 3–0 DR Congo – 2022 Group Stage

Two-time champions DR Congo arrived at CHAN 2022 as one of the favourites. Their history, depth, and experience made them formidable — but debutantes Senegal didn’t care for the script.

Senegal as debutants, humiliated two-time champions, DR Congo

The Teranga Lions, in their first CHAN appearance, played with a fearlessness that DR Congo could not match.

From the first whistle to the last, Senegal controlled the pace, carved open the defense, and finished clinically. The 3–0 scoreline wasn’t just a win; it was an announcement that Senegal had arrived as a serious force in African domestic football.

Sudan 0–3 Madagascar – 2022 Group Stage

Madagascar’s CHAN debut was a fairy-tale introduction to the tournament. Facing a more experienced Sudan side, the islanders showcased the same spirited energy that had captured hearts at AFCON.

Sudan in the past had been on the receiving end of humiliating result.

Lightning-fast counter-attacks and relentless pressing unsettled Sudan from the outset. The final 3–0 score reflected not just tactical discipline but also the sheer joy and hunger of a team determined to prove they belonged on this stage.

Sudan 4–0 Nigeria – 2024 Group Stage

And then came Zanzibar, August 2024. Sudan, coached by Ghanaian tactician Kwesi Appiah, produced a performance that will live in CHAN history. From the moment Ngenge’s unfortunate own goal broke the deadlock, the Falcons of Jediane grew in confidence.

The 4-0 defeat of Nigeria by Sudan means the Super Eagles B have not scored a goal in CHAN since 31 January 2018 when they beat Sudan 1-0.

“CHAN has been one of the best experiences. I don’t regret volunteering because it has improved my communication skills, expanded my network, and, in sha Allah, may bring better opportunities.”

Yagoub’s double either side of half-time, combined with Khdir’s penalty, left Nigeria shell-shocked. For the Super Eagles, two matches, zero goals, and elimination was a harsh reality. For Sudan, it was a statement that they could not just compete with Africa’s best — they could dominate them.

The victory propelled Sudan to the top of Group D alongside holders Senegal, setting up a tantalising final group clash. More than that, it gave CHAN yet another chapter in its long tradition of upsets.

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Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, was shell-shocked after Tuesday’s 4-0 demolition of his team by the rampaging Sudanese side.

The evening at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian archipelago, was a test of patience and pride for the coach who had recorded a second defeat in a row and would have an agonising one-week wait for a dead rubber match with Congo at the same venue.

“This is the worst game I’ve overseen”, he remarked after the nightmarish encounter.

Nigeria’s campaign was already on the ropes after player departures had weakened the squad, and the heavy defeat left them with only one thing to fight for — honour.

“We have lost all ambition. The CHAN is over for us. We have a third match to play for our honour and respect. But I am disappointed by this match. It is the worst game I’ve overseen from the dugout as a coach.”

Looking ahead to their final game against Congo, Chelle warned: “If we play this way against Congo, it wouldn’t be just four. We have to clear our minds and mentally get ready for Congo.”

The coach pointed to the loss of key domestic players — nearly eight who had moved abroad — as a turning point.

“Though some important players left our preparations camp, these were the best players in our league. We can’t play a game like that and lose in the manner we did. We need to be more focused.”

The mistakes against Sudan were costly. “The players focused in the first 20 minutes. Our goal was ruled out, and afterwards, we made a lot of mistakes… four mistakes, four goals.

“Our training session before the game went well. We analysed Sudan’s team. We prepared well but were not ready for as many mistakes.”

Sudan now eyes a top-of-the-table showdown with Senegal, while Nigeria seek redemption in their last match.

For one team, it’s about making a statement in the knockout stage. For the other, it’s about salvaging pride.

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