Morocco began their campaign for a third TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) crown with a commanding 2-0 victory over Angola in the Group A opener at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday.
A stunning first-half strike from Imad Riahi and a late own goal by Angolan defender Kinito handed the Atlas Lions a deserved win in a match they controlled from start to finish.
The CHAN tournament, exclusive to players active in their national leagues, has historically favoured Morocco, who lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2020. With Sunday’s win, they extended their unbeaten run in CHAN matches to 14, underlining their status as one of the tournament favourites.
Head coach Tarik Sektioui’s side wasted no time stamping their authority on the game. Morocco dominated possession early on and created a series of chances before finally breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute.
Midfielder Mohamed Hrimat delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Riahi, who unleashed a thunderous right-footed shot from outside the box. The ball flew past Angola’s goalkeeper Neblú, nestling into the net and putting Morocco in front.
The North Africans continued to press after the goal, with Riahi, Anas Bach, and Marouane Louadni all testing Neblú with shots that forced the Angolan keeper into a string of impressive saves.
Angola responded with sporadic bursts of danger, led by Jó Paciência and Aguinaldo Matias, but they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar remained composed, denying the few chances that came his way.
Morocco sealed the win in the 81st minute when substitute Youness El Kaabi broke down the left and fired a shot that Neblú parried into the path of Kinito, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure.
Captain Hrimat led Morocco’s defence with calm assurance in the final minutes, snuffing out Angola’s attempts to mount a late comeback. A speculative long-range effort from Mafuta was as close as the Palancas Negras came to scoring.
The result leaves Angola still searching for their first win in a CHAN opening match, having now gone five tournament games without a victory. They face a difficult path to progress from a competitive Group A, which also features hosts Kenya and Zambia.
Morocco will next face Kenya in a highly anticipated clash, while Angola must regroup quickly ahead of their must-win encounter with Zambia. The victory not only puts Morocco in command of the group but also sends a strong message to other title contenders in the 2025 CHAN tournament.
