Morocco made a striking entrance in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a commanding 2-0 win against Angola in their opening match of Group A at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
The Atlas Lions showcased their prowess early on, as Imad Riahi opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the first half. A second goal came from a second-half own goal by Angola’s Kinito, securing a well-deserved victory for Morocco, who dominated play throughout the match.
Morocco, a two-time champion of the tournament, aimed to continue their success and had high hopes for this year’s competition with a revitalized squad. Coach Tarik Sektioui’s team wasted no time in establishing dominance, controlling the match’s tempo from the outset.
Midway through the first half, Morocco broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Mohamed Hrimat delivered a precise through ball to Riahi, who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box, easily beating Angolan goalkeeper Neblú. The Moroccan side continued to threaten with several attempts on goal, forcing Neblú into action multiple times before halftime.
Despite Morocco’s control, Angola posed some threatening moments, particularly through forwards Jó Paciência and Aguinaldo Matias, though goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar remained resolute for the Atlas Lions.
The second half saw Morocco maintain their stronghold on the game. Angola attempted various substitutions to boost their offense, but it was Morocco who found the net again in the 81st minute. Substitute Youness El Kaabi made a significant impact, breaking down the left flank and shooting, but his effort was parried by Neblú into the path of Kinito, who accidentally directed the ball into his own goal under pressure.
Angola’s attempts to claw back into the game were met with a solid Moroccan defense, with captain Hrimat organizing a disciplined backline. The victory marks Morocco’s unbeaten streak in the CHAN group stages and signals their intent to contend for the title once more.
For Angola, the loss extends their winless streak in CHAN matches to five, raising concerns ahead of their challenging route to qualification from Group A. Morocco’s next challenge will be against co-hosts Kenya, while Angola will seek to regroup before facing Zambia.
