CHAN 2020: Morocco sweeps Zambia in quarter-finals
Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi, scorer against Zambia, January 31, 2021 © Courtesy of CAF
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
Title holders, the Moroccans left Zambia no chance on Sunday, January 31, in the quarter-finals of CHAN 2020. In Douala, the Atlas Lions folded the case in the first period thanks to an implacable superiority, conceding only one goal at the end of the game (3-1).
In the semi-finals, they will challenge Cameroon for an explosive shock.
Publicity
Read more
The suspense did not have time to settle at the Reunification Stadium in Douala this Sunday.
After a not entirely convincing first round, Morocco dotted the “i's” against Zambia: the defending champion has every intention of being the first country to keep his crown.
Zambia, their opponents in the
quarterfinals of CHAN 2020
, saw their hopes fly after a few seconds.
Morocco were favorites and showed it from the kick-off.
The Atlas Lions are off to the semi-finals!
🇲🇦🦁 # TotalCHAN2020 pic.twitter.com/9njOa1a0y1
- # TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 31, 2021
Zambia's first ten nightmarish minutes
The men led by Houcine Ammouta knocked out the Chipolopolo after only 37 seconds of play. Served by Abdelilah Hafidi in depth, Soufiane Rahimi won his duel with goalkeeper Allan Chibwe.
The referee and his assistants declared him invalid for alleged offside, but after three minutes of hesitation, video support confirmed Rahimi's goal was valid.
Already the author of a double in the previous match against Uganda (5-2), the Raja Casablanca striker joins the Guinean Yakhouba Barry at the top of the scorers classification of this CHAN (3 goals).
Zambia did not have time to turn its head right side up.
Within seconds, Allan Chibwe went from one extreme to the other.
The goalkeeper first won a new duel with Soufiane Rahimi.
But on the corner that followed, he missed his exit.
And at the far post, Mohamed Bemammer took advantage of the offering to make the break without difficulty with the flat of the foot (8th).
In short, a nightmarish start to the match for the Zambians.
Three goals to his name & two Total Man of the Match awards!
🔝🏆
What a tournament @ RCAofficiel's @ SoufianeRahimi2 is having!
👏 # TotalCHAN2020 |
#MARZAM pic.twitter.com/BjwToJtHQJ
- # TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 31, 2021
El Kaabi knocks out Chipolopolo ten
And the immediate result was no brighter for coach Milutin Sredojevic and his players.
Zachariah Chilongoshi made a gross foul on Soufiane Rahimi, with a violent sole on the knee of the Moroccan.
The left-back was first sanctioned with a yellow card, but the video assistants invited the main referee, the Burundian Pacific Ndabihawenimana, to review the action.
The man with the whistle did not hesitate: logically, he canceled Chilongoshi's yellow card and instead released the red card (20th).
The meager light that was left for the Zambians diminished even further when a cross from Ayoub El Kaabi was unwittingly blocked by a hand from a defender in the penalty area.
Captain El Kaabi was responsible for scoring the third goal (39th).
After 45 minutes of play, this quarter-final turned to the Moroccan demonstration.
Phiri saves the honor, place in Cameroon now for Morocco
After the break, Morocco mastered the proceedings and failed several times to add further.
But the Chipolopolo did not give up and were rewarded.
Despite their numerical inferiority, they managed to save the honor on an action where the Moroccan defense was at fault.
Omar Namsaoui missed his raise, Amity Shamende found Moses Phiri, and the latter, in force, beat Anas Zniti (80th).
A significant hitch in the copy of the Atlas Lions this Sunday.
Winners and authors of a perfect match during the first 80 minutes, the Moroccans gain strength.
Here they are with their ticket for the semi-finals in their pockets, and the poster for Wednesday February 3 in Limbé is enticing.
Cameroon, host country and winner of the DRC on
Saturday, will challenge the defending champion.
This is promising.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Sports
Soccer
CHAN 2020
CHAN
Morocco
Zambia
On the same subject
CHAN 2020: Mali take out Congo-Brazzaville on penalties and return to the semi-finals
CHAN 2020: Cameroon overthrows the DRC and goes into the last square