Morocco kicked off their quest for a 3rd TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) title in fashion with a dominant 2-0 win over Angola within the Group A opener at Nyayo Nationwide Stadium in Nairobi.
A superb first-half strike from Imad Riahi and a late personal objective by Angolan defender Kinito sealed the factors for the Atlas Lions, who prolonged their unbeaten run in CHAN to 14 matches.
With a revamped squad and excessive expectations, the two-time champions (2018, 2020) wasted no time imposing themselves on the match. Head coach Tarik Sektioui’s aspect dictated the tempo from the outset, with captain Mohamed Hrimat marshalling the midfield and defence with authority.
After a couple of early probabilities, the breakthrough got here within the twenty ninth minute. Hrimat delivered a exact by means of ball to Riahi, who unleashed a surprising right-footed strike from exterior the field that flew previous Angolan goalkeeper Neblú and into the again of the web.
Morocco continued to threaten earlier than the break, with Anas Bach and Marouane Louadni additionally testing Neblú in a flurry of assaults. Angola, in the meantime, regarded to reply by means of Jó Paciência and Aguinaldo Matias however have been denied by Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar.
Within the second half, Angola made a number of attacking substitutions in an try to discover a method again, however Morocco remained disciplined and defensively stable.
The North Africans doubled their lead within the 81st minute after substitute Youness El Kaabi’s low shot was parried by Neblú into the trail of Kinito, who turned the ball into his personal internet below stress.
Regardless of a late long-range effort from Angola’s Mafuta, the Atlas Lions comfortably noticed out the match to safe all three factors and a clear sheet.
The victory locations Morocco on the prime of Group A on objective distinction, tied with event co-hosts Kenya who defeated DR Congo 1-0 within the different group fixture, due to a first-half stoppage-time objective from midfielder Allan Odhiambo.
Angola, now winless of their final 5 CHAN matches, face an uphill process within the group.
