PuraVida Sports

By Dennis Mabuka

Morocco face Madagascar in the final of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN PAMOJA 2024) at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday night, bringing down the curtains for the eighth edition of the tournament being co-hosted in East Africa for the first time in history.
The Atlas Lions, champions in 2018 and 2020, ended Senegal’s hopes of back-to-back titles by winning 5-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in Kampala. Meanwhile, Madagascar reached their first-ever continental final after defeating Sudan 1-0.
This will mark the Atlas Lions’ third CHAN Final in six years, underlining their reputation as one of the competition’s most consistent and successful sides. 

On the other side of the draw, Madagascar wrote a new chapter in African football history by qualifying for their first-ever CHAN Final.

World football governing body (Fifa) President Gianni Infantino will join Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe and their Kenyan host, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed in watching the final at Kasarani.

On Saturday, Motsepe will host a press conference in Nairobi ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN, PAMOJA 2024 Final.

The press conference will follow a CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting where a number of important decisions will be taken on the growth and development of African football.

What have the coaches said?
Meanwhile, peaking ahead of the final, Morocco head coach Tarik Sektioui explained why they will not underrate Madagascar, who eliminated hosts Kenya in the last eight to reach the stage.
“It is going to be a very difficult game, but one of our qualities is being modest and respecting every team,” said Sektioui. 

“We will give them the respect they deserve, but we have to be ready mentally, physically, and tactically to beat them.”
Against Senegal, it was the defending champions, who struck first through Joseph Layousse, who rose highest in the 16th minute to head home from Libasse Guèye’s corner. 

However, Morocco levelled matters six minutes later when Sabir Bougrine unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike from outside the box that flew into the top corner.
For Morocco, it will be a chance to reclaim continental dominance and join the record books with a third CHAN title. Meanwhile, Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe has kept his cards close to his chances, ahead of the final.
Asked whether his team will beat Morocco, Rakotondrabe remained grounded by saying: “I can’t answer the question of whether we can win the title. Beating Sudan doesn’t mean we’ll win the title.
“We lost two players before the final, but despite that, we have several players and we’ll find replacements. I hope there are players who can make a difference on the pitch in the final.”
He added: “We were saying before the semi-final match that we must return to Nairobi, and in fact we will return for the final.”

Third place play-off

Before the final showdown, Senegal and Sudan contested the third-place playoff at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and Senegal clinched third place after overcoming Sudan 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The defending champions, denied a place in the final after losing to Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals, showed resilience once more in a tense bronze medal match.

Victory means Senegal secured a podium finish in back-to-back tournaments, while Sudan’s wait for a third CHAN medal goes on despite a spirited display.

In front of a lively crowd in Kampala, Sudan looked the sharper of the two sides in the opening stages.

Their persistence paid off in the 6th minute when Mohamed Tia Asad rose highest to power home a header from Abdel Raouf Yagoub’s corner, putting the Falcons of Jediane 1-0 ahead.

That advantage stood until the break, with Sudan showing defensive discipline and goalkeeper Mohamed Abooja pulling off crucial saves to frustrate the holders.

 Senegal, however, came out stronger after half-time, pushing higher up the pitch and forcing errors.

Their equaliser arrived in the 58th minute when Seyni Ndiaye’s precise header found the net, after good work on the flank by Ousseynou Seck.

From then on, the Lions of Teranga took control of possession, but Sudan continued to threaten on the counter, with Abooja again keeping his side level.

Senegal flawless from the spot

Neither side could find a winner in regulation time, and with extra-time absent in the third-place play-off, penalties were required.

Sudan blinked first, with Walieldin Khdir firing his opening kick wide of the target. 

Although Mohamed Ahmed Saeed and Ahmed Tabanja scored, Musab Makeen saw his effort saved by Marc Diouf, handing Senegal the advantage.

Senegal were flawless from the spot. Joseph Layousse, Issa Kane, Vieux Cissé, and finally Libasse Guèye all converted, giving them a 4-2 shootout victory.

The result was bittersweet for Souleymane Diallo’s youthful side, who entered the tournament aiming to defend their crown but had to settle for bronze.

Still, it underlined their depth and promise, as they remain unbeaten in open play across their last 10 CHAN matches.

“This was about character,” Diallo said afterwards. “The players showed maturity after the disappointment of the semi-final. We wanted to finish with something, and we did that.”

For Sudan, coached by Ghana’s Kwesi Appiah, the defeat was painful but their campaign earned admiration across the continent.

Despite a domestic league crippled by conflict, they defied the odds to reach the semi-finals, eliminating Nigeria and pushing Madagascar to the limit.

Appiah praised his players’ spirit: “We came very far with limited preparation. I am proud of how the team fought. Sudanese football has shown it still has heart.”

While Senegal celebrate a bronze medal and Sudan reflect on what might have been, all eyes now turn to Nairobi, where Morocco and Madagascar will meet in Saturday’s final at Moi International Sports Centre. (Additional reporting by Cafonline.com)