Kenya confirmed their dominance in Group A of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia at a packed Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday.

Ryan Ogam’s decisive strike midway through the second half ensured the Harambee Stars finished unbeaten at the summit of the group, while Zambia exited the competition without a single point.

With Morocco beating DR Congo 3-1 in the simultaneous fixture, both Kenya and Morocco progressed to the quarter-finals, leaving the Leopards stranded in third place.

Kenya will stay in Nairobi to play Madagascar in the quarter-final on Friday, while Morocco travels to face Tanzania in the other last eight match

The match was finely balanced until the 75th minute, when substitute Boniface Muchiri found space on the right and delivered a clever ball into the area.

Ogam controlled well before calmly slotting past Charles Kalumba in the Zambian goal to send the 27,000-strong Nairobi crowd into raptures.

The goal was a reward for Kenya’s persistence after dominating possession and creating several openings that were either blocked or denied by Kalumba, who had an outstanding evening despite his side’s defeat.

For Benni McCarthy’s side, the result was about more than qualification. Already assured of a quarter-final place, Kenya entered the tie determined to underline their credentials as serious title contenders.

“When everybody said Group of Death, we would probably have had zero points after four games, but we found ourselves sitting on top of the mountain, and now we really want to enjoy that view on top of that mountain,” McCarthy said before kick-off.

Kenya had already beaten Morocco and DR Congo earlier in the group, results that established them as the surprise package of the tournament.

Against Zambia, they showcased tactical maturity and resilience to secure a third victory in four matches, finishing with 10 points and just one goal conceded in the group stage.

For Zambia, the campaign ended in disappointment. The Chipolopolo, once a feared force in African football, bowed out after four straight defeats. Yet coach Avram Grant insisted there were positives to take from the experience.

“Our aim is to win,” Grant had said on the eve of the game. “Yes, this is our last game, unfortunately. But this tournament was very important for me and for all the staff. It’s a new team, and we wanted to see who is available for the national team.”

Despite showing flashes of quality, Zambia were unable to convert chances, with Kampamba himself and Prince Mumba both going close. Kenyan goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo stood firm, making key saves at crucial moments.

Kenya’s players were quick to salute the support that carried them to victory. Defender Daniel Sakari stressed the importance of the fans’ backing ahead of the game.

That support was evident in the closing stages, as Zambia pressed for an equaliser.

Shikhalo saved brilliantly from Kampamba late on, before Muchiri almost doubled the lead at the other end with a long-range strike that was tipped over.

With Kenya’s win and Morocco edging DR Congo, the Harambee Stars topped Group A with 10 points, Morocco followed closely with nine, while DR Congo’s six were not enough to progress.

Angola finished fourth on four points, and Zambia finished bottom with none.

Kenya will now remain in Nairobi for their quarter-final to face Madagascar, giving them both momentum and home advantage. 

-CAF

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Two-time champions DR Congo took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with a composed 2-0 victory over Angola at Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi on Thursday night.

Second-half headers from Jephté Kitambala and substitute Jonathan Mokonzi sealed a result that puts the Leopards A’ firmly in the qualification race from Group A.

Earlier in the day, Morocco defeated Zambia 3-1, meaning Sunday’s showdown between DR Congo and Morocco will likely decide a semi-final berth, while Angola’s campaign ends with disappointment after failing to find the net.

Both teams came into the game with contrasting situations — Angola needing a win to guarantee progress, and DR Congo aware that victory would put them within touching distance of the knockout stages.

The opening 45 minutes saw chances at both ends. Angola’s Beni Jetour and Kaporal tested DR Congo goalkeeper Brudel Efonge from distance, while Jephté Kitambala forced a save from Neblú in the Angola goal.

The Palancas Negras looked dangerous from set-pieces, but were repeatedly denied by alert defending.

The Leopards had their moments too, with Ibrahim Matobo and Oscar Kabwit both going close, yet neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval.

Leopards Roar After the Break

The match came alive in the second half. DR Congo broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Âgée Basiala’s pinpoint free-kick delivery found Kitambala, who rose highest to glance his header into the bottom corner.

Angola responded with a flurry of attacking changes — bringing on Jó Paciência, Mafuta, and Gogoró — and nearly equalised through Vidinho’s close-range header, only for Efonge to save smartly.

Just as Angola began to push forward, DR Congo struck again.

From a 70th-minute corner, Basiala once more provided the assist, delivering a teasing cross that Mokonzi met at the near post to double the lead.

Angola’s Frustration Grows

Pedro Gonçalves’ side poured numbers forward in the final quarter of an hour, but their finishing let them down.

Jó Paciência fired over from range, Lépua’s shot was blocked, and Kinito saw his late effort smothered by the DR Congo defence.

Substitute goalkeeper Neblú kept the scoreline respectable with a fine save from Matobo, but the damage was done.

DR Congo’s defensive discipline, marshalled by Osée Ndombele and Lolendo Mansanga, ensured there would be no late drama.

Basiala the Architect

While both goals came from clinical headers, the common thread was Basiala’s delivery.

The winger’s set-piece precision proved the decisive factor, as he directly created both scoring opportunities.

Kitambala’s movement and Mokonzi’s impact off the bench also underlined the depth in Daouda Lupembe’s squad.

With Morocco and DR Congo set to meet in Sunday’s decisive clash, the stakes could not be higher.

The winner will likely advance, while Kenya’s meeting with Zambia will determine the other quarter-finalist.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H