Zambia’s long-wait for a maiden Africa Nations Championship (Chan) title continues after they were eliminated from the eighth edition of the tournament following a 3-1 loss to two-time champions Morocco on Thursday evening.
The Group “A” fixture was staged at the 18,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium. More than 5,000 spectators attended the match.
Morocco, nicknamed “The Atlas Lions”, scored through captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, forward Oussama Lamlioui and substitute Sabir Bougrine. Zambia’s “Chipolopolo” netted their consolation goal through substitute Andrew Phiri.
Following the loss, Zambia is certain to finish bottom of the five-team group.
Zambia lost their first match of the tournament 2-0 to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and went down 2-1 to Angola in the second. After playing three matches, hosts Kenya top Group “A” with seven points from three matches, followed by Morocco on six points from the same number of matches.
Abdelhak Assal (left) of Morocco vies for the ball with Kelvin Kampamba of Zambia during a Group 'A' match in the 2024 African Nations Championship at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on August 14, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omolo | Nation Media Group
Angola are placed third in the group on four points from three matches, while two-time champions Democratic Republic of Congo are fourth with three points from two matches.
Zambia lie bottom of the group with no point after three matches. Angola and DRC were scheduled to clash last evening at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani.
Only the top two teams in the four pools will progress to the quarter-final stage. This year’s edition of the competition marks Zambia’s fifth appearance in the tournament, which is reserved for players plying their trade in their respective domestic leagues.
Zambia’s best performance in the competition came in the inaugural edition held in 2009 in Sudan, where they defeated Senegal 2-1 in the third place play-off match.
After losing their first match against DRC, Zambia’s experienced coach Avram Grant on Friday urged his players not to lose hope “because teams can win in the first game and lose in the next while others that lose in the first game can go forward.”
Zambia’s “Chipolopolo”, however, failed to bounce back from that loss and have exited the competition in the group stage.
They will face Kenya in their last group match on Sunday at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
On Thursday, Morocco were guilty of wasting several scoring opportunities in the first-half where they were the dominant side.
Midfielder Ait Ouarkhane Khalid agonisingly fired his powerful shot over the crossbar despite remaining with Zambia’s goalkeeper Francis Mwansa as the only man to beat.
Moments ealier, the “Chipolopolo” had survived a double scare, with their defenders scrambling desperately to clear the danger. Morocco had looked dangerous from the first whistle, pinning Zambia in their own half.
However, with the “Atlas Lions” wasting chances cheaply, Zambia’s confidence grew, and they began pushing forward in search of scoring opportunities.
Morocco’s goalkeeper Elmehdi Al Harrar was first called into action in the 22nd minute, racing off his line to collect a dangerous ball. Shortly after, Zambia defender Mathews Banda unleashed a powerful shot that missed the target but drew wild cheers from the Zambian fans.
The “Chipolopolo” captain Kelvin Mubanga then tested Harrar in a similar fashion. The “Atlas Lions” responded immediately at the other end, with Mwansa parrying Boulacsout’s effort for a corner.
Morocco finally broke the deadlock in the second minute of added time, Hrimat coolly finishing inside the box after being neatly set up.
Zambia made the match’s first change at the restart with forward Andrew Phiri and midfielder Charles Zulu coming in for Dominic Chanda and Rally Bwalya, respectively. The two-time champions started the second half strongly with defender Marouane Louadni coming close with a header.
Zambia thought they had found the breakthrough in the 64th minute through Happy Nsiku’s header, but centre referee, Senegalese Adalbert Diouf, cancelled the goal following an offside on a Moroccan player. But even before the frustration from the disallowed goal could fade away, Morocco doubled their advantage through Lamloui in the 66th minute. But Zambia did not give up, their efforts paying off four minutes later through Phiri strike. Bougrine sealed the win with a goal at the stroke of added time.
Zambia refused to give up, pulling one back four minutes later through Phiri’s strike. Bougrine then sealed the victory for Morocco with a goal at the stroke of added time.
