An evening of pyrotechnics, music, and goal fest at Kasarani

CAF’s safety and security regulations prohibit use of items that increase the risk of fire, or are harmful to health.

Yet, pyrotechnics made the Chan 2024 a lit affair. A cloud of smoke bombs as CAF and the Chan 2024 Local Organising Committee borrowed a leaf from practices made famous by football ultra groups.

Smoke bombs discharged clouds of colourful fumes that colonised the air. Avian life in the sky above Kasarani had to deal with rude guests as fireworks exploded into earsplitting bright sparks. Cannons of flamethrowers coughed with balls of fire, adding flamboyance to the spectacle.

The headline musical acts – Kenya’s Savara Mudigi, Tanzania’s Zuchu, and Uganda’ Eddy Kenzo – performed on a stage set on a massive circular carpet with a tartan design, perhaps paying tribute to the Maasai shukas that proclaim Kenyan identity.

A battalion of speakers, banging and booming, amplified the trio’s voices. Behind, a specially designed circular screen beamed visual representations of musical beats and the faces of the singers as they performed.

The fanfare went on as the trophy made a silent entry to the pitch, escorted by the tournament's three ambassadors – Kenya’s Victor Wanyama, Tanzania’s Mrisho Ngassa, and Denis Onyango of Uganda.

As the set-up for the closing ceremony was going on, the players of the two teams stepped out the tunnels to soak in the calm before the storm.

Moroccan players and their technical staff came out to cheers and they appreciated the support with smiles and waves.

Madagascar came out after them and the crowd immediately let out a chorus of boos, reminding the Indian Ocean islanders that they had not been forgiven for eliminating Kenya from the competition.

Madagascar’s kit and equipment manager Didier Eymard, spotting a dyed Mohawk, responded to the taunts by performing a series of Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous siuuu celebration.

He concluded his leaps by sticking two fingers to his forehead, depicting horns on a bull as he announced the nickname of the Madagascar national football team – ‘Barea’, a name that refers to the zebu cow that is indigenous to Madagascar.

In the crowd, Madagascans and Moroccans who had made it to the stadium waved their flags, displaying banners of all sizes. They were not alone in doing so. Flags of Kenya, Palestine, Uganda, and even Sierra Leone, were also proudly waved.

The crowd also rose in surfs of Mexican waves and frequently erupted in roaring chants of “Morocco! Morocco!”. The Malagasy fans were defiant in their response, shouting “Madagascar! Madagascar!” when the crowd went silent.

When darkness fell, the crowd decided that floodlights needed company and dotted the terraces with a sea of torches.

The first half of the match ended with history made and Morocco leading 2-1. Madagascar’s Clavin Felicite Mahonantsoa struck from long range in the ninth minute to score the earliest goal ever witnessed in a Chan final. Morocco’s Youssef Mehri added to the records in the 27th minute as he equalised for the Atlas Lions.

His goal made it the first time in the history of Chan that both teams had scored in a Chan final. In the 44th minute, Oussama Lamlioui pulled further ahead in the golden boot race with his fifth goal of the tournament.

That first half goal fest meant that the first 45 minutes of the Chan 2024 final had seen more goals, three, than the first period of the previous seven Chan finals, combined.

The second half resumed and Madagascar unleashed their super substitute Toky Rakotondraibe to prowl the pitch for one last heroic act. He had scored their opening goal in their 2-0 win over the Central African Republic.

Against Harambee Stars in the quarterfinal, he scored their last kick in their 4-3 penalty shootout victory in a match that had ended 1-1 after regulation and extra-time.

In the semifinals against Sudan, he pushed 10-man Madagascar over the line after delivering a dramatic win with a strike in the 116th minute. He had become the master of the last word and against Morocco in the final he nearly continued that legend.

He sprung from the bench to equalise for the ‘Barea’ in the 68th minute, stabbing the ball into Elmehdi Al Harrar’s bottom right corner.

Yet, it was Lamlioui who had the final say in the 80th minute with the 90th goal scored at Chan 2024 and what a beauty it was.

Madagascar’s veteran goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa, who had been superb throughout the tournament, roamed far out of his area and the Moroccan number nine punished his wandering by looping the ball over him from 42 yards.

Cameroonian referee Abdou Abdel Merife, the youngest referee at Chan 2024, blew the final whistle 15 minutes early, sparking a contrast of emotions. The Malagasy players dropped to the ground in dejection, they had given their all but it was not enough.

Their opponents knelt in poses of jubilation, as their substitutes players swarmed the pitch with the Moroccan flag flying behind their backs supported by their outstretched arms.

The awards ceremony followed and Morocco celebrated some more.

Their captain Mohamed Hrimat was named the player of the tournament and Oussama Lamlioui added the golden boot to luggage back home. Senegal, champions of the last edition, had more reason to be proud of their third-place finish. They won the fair play trophy and their goalkeeper, Marc Diouf, was awarded the golden glove award.

The medals presentation followed and the occasion’s gladiators were garlanded one by one as they walked past a file of dignitaries comprising President William Ruto, Fifa President Gianni Infantino, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

The night ended with CAF throwing the rulebook out of the window yet again. Jets of flames and fireworks accompanied an explosion of confetti as Morocco lifted the Chan trophy for the third time, hence becoming the tournament’s most successful team.