Dar es Salaam. Morocco brought an end to Tanzania’s stirring journey at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday night, sealing their passage to the semi-finals for the third time in the competition’s history.
The Atlas Lions leaned on their continental pedigree and tactical discipline to silence a partisan home crowd that had filled the 60,000-seater arena to the brim, cheering every touch from the Taifa Stars in the hope of witnessing another chapter in their historic campaign.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute. Youssef Belammari broke into the box on the left and cut the ball back for Oussama Lamlaoui, who pounced instinctively to slot beyond Yakoub Suleiman and register his third goal of the tournament.
That moment of quality proved decisive in a contest that, until then, had been tightly poised.
A contest of equals
The opening exchanges reflected the balance of the quarter-final. Tanzania, fresh from an unbeaten group phase, pressed high and threatened through the lively Clement Mzize and midfield orchestrator Feisal Salum.
The pair combined to fashion half-chances, but Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar stood firm.
Morocco, despite missing three key defenders, Bouchaib El Arsi, Marouane El Ouedni and Abdelhak Assal, gradually asserted themselves, with Lamlaoui twice going close before finally making his mark midway through the second half.
Spurred by the concession, Tanzania threw men forward.
Mzize’s glancing header from Mohamed Hussein’s teasing cross brushed the side netting, while substitute Nassor Saadun squandered a late opportunity, firing over from the edge of the box as the stadium rose in expectation.
Yet Morocco’s rearguard, marshalled superbly by Mohamed Moufid and Mehdi Mchakhchekh, withstood wave after wave of pressure as the game moved into stoppage time.
Respect without fear
The outcome underscored the pre-match words of Taifa Stars coach Hamad Suleiman, who had declared his side would face Morocco with “respect without fear.”
His men embodied that mantra, matching their illustrious opponents stride for stride and refusing to be intimidated by the occasion or the record of the two-time champions.
Suleiman had also underlined the tactical nature of the contest, noting that strategy as much as spirit would shape the result.
So it proved: Morocco’s patience and precision in the final third made the difference, while Tanzania’s lack of cutting edge cost them dearly.
Defender Shomari Kapombe, speaking on the eve of the tie, had voiced his teammates’ determination to showcase their abilities, and though the result did not go their way, the Taifa Stars left the pitch to a standing ovation that spoke volumes of their effort.
Morocco’s pedigree intact
For coach Tarik Sektioui, the result represented a continuation of Morocco’s remarkable record in the competition. It marked their seventh consecutive knockout victory in CHAN since 2014 and reaffirmed their status as one of the most consistent forces in the tournament.
“We knew the match would be difficult, but we trusted our ability to manage it,” Sektioui said before kick-off, and his side delivered on that conviction.
The Atlas Lions will now set their sights on a semi-final clash as they bid to emulate their title-winning runs of 2018 and 2020.
Tanzania bow out with pride
While defeat ended their dream of becoming the first debutants since Madagascar in 2022 to reach the last four, Tanzania can reflect on their most successful CHAN campaign to date.
The Taifa Stars topped Group B, conceded only two goals in five outings, and blended the experience of domestic stalwarts with the fresh energy of youth.
The promotion of five U20 players into the senior set-up injected vibrancy, while the contributions of Simba SC, Azam FC, and Young Africans underscored the strength of the local game.
More than results, however, it was the atmosphere generated by fans at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium that defined Tanzania’s campaign.
Suleiman had framed their presence as motivation rather than pressure, and the players fed off that energy throughout, creating memories that will endure beyond the final whistle.
The Taifa Stars may have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle, but they depart with their reputation enhanced, their supporters inspired, and belief strengthened that East African football is ready to compete on the continental stage.
