Two-time champions Morocco advanced to the semifinals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship with a 1-0 victory against co-hosts Tanzania in Friday night’s second quarter final match at Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
The Atlas Lions calmed the raucous home crowd at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium by drawing on their experience.
Just over halfway through the second half, on an assist from Youssef Belammari, striker Oussama Lamlaoui scored the game-winning goal.
After seeming dangerous through Lamlaoui in the first half, Morocco began to gradually control the play from the onset of the 2nd half.
Returning to the stage for the first time since winning their second title in 2020, the Atlas Lions will be playing in next Tuesday’s semi-final at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Kampala, Uganda.
Establishing themselves as a formidable force, Morocco has now won seven straight CHAN tournament knockout games since 2014.
Both Tanzania and Kenya, the tournament’s co-hosts, could walk away from it feeling accomplished, having hosted the best championship to date and made history by finishing first in their groups and advancing to the quarterfinals.
