The national team (title holder), which held off its Cameroonian counterpart during this avant-garde final, thus becomes the first selection to reach two consecutive CHAN finals.
The Atlas Lions are undefeated in their last 12 African Nations Championship matches (10 wins, 2 draws), losing for the final time in the competition to Ivory Coast in the group stage in 2016 (0-1). This is, in fact, the longest streak of invincibility for the same selection in the event.
Lhoucine Ammouta’s men, whose technical performance rose crescendo during this edition, were not intimidated by the advantage of the field and the public which played in favor of the Cameroonians who were playing their first semi-final of the competition.
During this Moroccan-Cameroonian confrontation, unprecedented in the tournament, the Moroccan players showed great pragmatism, excellent tactical discipline and remarkable solidarity.
After the observation round, the nationals pressed the button and almost opened the score in the 18th minute of play. After a free kick played quickly on the left, Soufiane Rahimi impeccably serves Ayoub El Kaabi who only had to put the leather in the back of the net, but the Moroccan striker misses the inevitable (18th).
In the 28th minute, following a free kick executed by Omar Namsaoui, the ball was intercepted by Cameroonian goalkeeper Haschou Kerrido, who released it to the great delight of Soufiane Bouftini, who was on the lookout to open the score.
Five minutes from the end of the first half, Ayoub El Kaabi redeemed himself by delivering a bright pass to Abdelilah Hafidi, who, very selflessly, handed the ball to Soufiane Rahimi, the Raja Casablanca striker, finding no difficulty to double the stakes for the nationals (40th).
The second Moroccan goal gave a cold sweat to the Cameroonian team who appeared disoriented and lacking inspiration. The Indomitable Lions, a shadow of themselves, did not manage to worry the Moroccan goalkeeper at any time during the first period.
Returning from the locker room, the Cameroonians gave it their all, but without managing to find the fault in the Moroccan defense.
The national team, which kept a low profile at times during the second half while seeking to keep its goal clean, was waiting for the opportune moment to increase the score.
Their tactic bore fruit since Soufiane Rahimi, an opportunist, managed to score a third goal (73rd), taking advantage of an error by defender Pierre Etame.
Rahimi, who scored his fifth goal during this championship, is so far the top scorer of this edition.
And eight minutes from the end of regulation time, Mohammed Ali Bemammer drives home the point by scoring the 4th Moroccan goal.
In the final, scheduled for this Sunday at the Ahmadou-Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé, the Moroccan selection will meet its Malian counterpart, who validated their ticket after beating Guinea (0-0 regulation time and overtime, 5-4, tab).
Cameroon and Guinea will meet this Saturday at the Reunification stadium in Douala in a match for 3rd place.
2024-09-28 23:39:24