Oussama Lamlioui produced a masterclass performance as he scored a brace to guide Morocco’s Atlas Lions to a 3rd TotalEnergies African Nations Championships trophy and a 1st title since 2020 ,in an entertaining final of the 8th edition played on Saturday evening at the Kasarani Stadium.
The Barea of Madagascar meaning a Zebu bull playing in the final of the biennial tournament for the 1st time, went ahead in the 9th minute via Felicite Manohantsoa screamer before Youssef Mehri restored parity for the Tarik Sektioui men in the 27th minute connecting Khalid Baba’s cross.
Tournament’s top scorer Oussama Lamlioui put Morocco ahead just a minute before the break latching on a loose ball in the Madagascar goal mouth to put the North Africans in front into halftime.
Resilient Malagasy equalised in the 68th minute through Toky Rakotondraibe’s strike .
Lamlioui won it for Morocco 10 minutes from time with a cheeky loop connecting Mohammed Hrimat’s pass after Madagascar’s keeper Michel Ramandimbisoa went off his line to seal the victory.
The Atlas Lions registered a total of seven wins in this year’s edition to become the first country to bag three titles since the inception of the tournament in 2019.
Morocco has now won the trophy in 2018,2020 and 2024.
The final which was attended by the fifa President Gianni Infantinho CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe,CAF’s first vice President also the Moroccan football President Faouzi Lekjaa,President William Ruto of Kenya and his Madagascan counter part Andre Rajoelina among other dignitaries.
Morocco’s midfielder Mohammed Hrimat was named the best player of the tournament with his team mate Lamlioui bagging the golden boot award with 6 goals.
Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Diouf scooped the golden glove award as his team bagged the fairplay award.
The tournament was co hosted by Kenya,Uganda and Tanzania since 2nd August saw a record 19 teams participate for the 1st time with 90 goals scored in 44 matches.
Kenya ,Tanzania and Uganda staged a memorale tournament besides thier teams making it to the quarter finals for the 1st time.
