Morocco beat Madagascar in 2024 Chan final for third title

Ranked top in Africa and 12th globally, Morocco were able to rally from behind to win the final with forward Oussama Lamlioui scoring a brace, including a spectacular winner in the 80th minute. Forward Youssef Mehri netted Morocco’s other goal while Madagascar scored through forwards Clavin Felicite Manohantsoa and Toky Rakotondraibe.

For the triumph, Morocco will receive a whopping Sh452.7 million ($3.5 million) from CAF as prize money, while Madagascar will pocket Sh155 million ($1.2 million) for finishing second.

Madagascar are ranked 115th. Despite the home team Harambee Stars not playing, Kasarani Stadium was nearly full to capacity, with more than 45,000 fans in attendance. President William Ruto, Fifa president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe are among the dignitaries who attended the thrilling final.

Even though Kenya’s Harambee Stars did not reach the final, hosting the competition’s climax was historic for the country since it marked the first time in 38 years that Kenya staged such a major continental football showpiece. The last time Kenya hosted a competition of such magnitude was the 1987 All Africa Games (African Games) in which Harambee Stars lost 1-0 to Egypt in the football final at a packed Kasarani Stadium. Marking the end of a month-long, action-packed football tournament, the Chan showpiece concluded in style, with the highly anticipated final between Morocco and Madagascar being preceded by a flurry of top-class entertainment.

The climax of entertainment was the short, live performance by Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo, Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Zuhura Othman Soud, popularly known as “Zuchu” and Kenya’s celebrated producer and songwriter Savara Mudigi, formerly of Kenyan Afropop band Sauti Sol.

Kenzo opened the show with an electrifying performance, bringing the fans to their feet with the number "Sitya Loss, followed by “Zuchu”, who thrilled the crowd with her song “Wale Wale”.  Savara capped the live performances with a number of songs, including “Dudu Ero Biro”. In between the entertainment, dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky, adding to the electric atmosphere as the crowd sang and danced along.

Still smarting from Harambee Stars’ painful elimination in the quarter-final by Madagascar, the home fans announced their support for Morocco early by cheering them as they made their way onto the pitch for the warm-up session.

They also shouted “Morocco, Morocco”, and booed when the stadium’s announcer was reading out Madagascar's starting line-up.

Morocco fired the warning shot early when Anas Bach agonisingly missed the target in the second minute. The Indian Ocean islanders, nicknamed “Barea”, found consolation in the fact that Bach had been flagged offside.

The Atlas Lions continued with their strong start, the impressive Mohamed Boulacsout whipping two successive stunning crosses into Madagascar’s box, but none of his teammates could convert.

Just as was the case during Harambee Stars’ matches, the home fans cheered loudly at every attack by the North Africans and booed Madagascar whenever they pushed forward.

Madagascar’s support came from a handful of their supporters at the stadium, but their cheers were always swallowed by the roars of the noisy Kenyan fans.

But against the run of play, the “Barea” took the lead in the ninth minute through Manohantsoa’s stunning strike.

The build-up to the opener was fluid, with Nantenaina Mika Razafimatana latching onto a midfield pass to find Manohantsoa, who, despite being marked by two Moroccan players outside the box, still managed to strike the far left of the net.

Shouts of “VAR, VAR” by the home fans fell on deaf ears as the goal stood.

Now rallying from behind, Morocco continued to press high, their efforts paying off in the 27th minute when Mehri equalised with a free header, the goal sending Kasarani into a thunderous celebration.

Mehri rose highest to connect to Khalid Baba’s cross.

Madagascar were lucky to survive in the 38th minute following a howler by their veteran goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa after he received a back pass.

Just when it looked as if the two teams would break for halftime tied 1-1, Lamliou gave Morocco the lead in the 44th minute with a tap-in after latching on to a cross from Boulacsout on the right.

The goal was confirmed by a VAR review.

While Madagascar made three changes at the re-start, it was Morocco who got off the blocks first in the second half with Lamlioui blasting his close-range shot over the bar. Madagascar responded on the other end with Manohantsoa, beating Morocco’s goalkeeper Elmehdi Al Harrar with a long-range, powerful shot. Despite not being the dominant side, Madagascar continued to show bravery and fighting spirit, their efforts paying off in the 67th minute when substitute Rakotondraibe capitalised on poor defending by the African giants to score the equaliser.

He latched on a long pass from right to beat the goalkeeper Harrar with a close-range shot to the far left of the goal post.

Morocco should have responded immediately, but Lamlioui blasted his shot wide despite remaining with goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa as the only man to beat.

Midfielder Nomena Rafanomezantsoa then made a goal-line clearance for Madagascar. With ten minutes left, Lamlioui sealed the winner in spectacular fashion, firing an ambitious shot from midfield after spotting Ramandimbisoa off his line.

The 39-year-old keeper stretched for a fingertip save but could not prevent the ball from going in. The goal sent Kasarani into thunderous cheers, with Moroccan players and their bench exploding into wild celebrations. While Madagascar have not won the Chan title, they had already made history by finishing second in their second appearance at the tournament.  The Indian Ocean islanders finished third in the 2022 edition held in Algeria.