Huh? Come on, let’s call it a great final for this CHAN 2025, which saw the consecration of the Moroccan team against the Barea, who did not disgrace themselves, far from it.
The Moroccans almost killed the match in the first minute of play, with a superb breakthrough that went just wide of the Malagasy goalkeeper’s goal.
Hope nevertheless arose in the 9th minute, with the opening goal on a magnificent half-volley from Felicité Manohantsoa.
From that moment on, and despite constant pressure from the Atlas Lions, anything suddenly became possible.
This hope was unfortunately dashed in the 26th minute, on a header from Moroccan Youssef Mehri, who was well-played from the right flank by his teammate Khalid Baba. The score was level at 1-1. The right flank, incidentally, would be the source of the vast majority of Moroccan attacks.
Reinvigorated, the Moroccans increased their pressure even further, taking the lead just before the break in the 44th minute, with impeccable control from their star striker Lamlioui, again on a cross from the right flank.
The second half began at 2-1, with the Moroccans still maintaining incredible pressure in the Malagasy box.
And just like in the first half, it was the Barea who found the Moroccan net in the 68th minute with a subtle control from Toky Rakotondraibe in the penalty area and a small touch that equalized.
2-2, anything was possible again; the match could go either way.
And unfortunately, it would be to the Moroccans’ advantage. In the 80th minute, after a clearance from goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa Lalain’arinjaka, the latter saw the ball come back to him very quickly from 35 meters, on an incredible strike from the indispensable Lamlaoui, a shot that lobbed the Malagasy goalkeeper.
A brace from the Moroccan star striker in this match, thus allowing the Atlas Lions to claim a hat-trick in this African Nations Championship.
As expected, the Moroccans’ aggressive yet precise play got the better of the Barea. But the close final score, 3-2, proves that the Malagasy are far from being unworthy.
Individual skill, which still has plenty of room for improvement, as well as a slightly more tactical team structure, should allow these Barea to go further in the future and dream of a major title on the African continent.
Congratulations in any case for this magnificent performance in this 2025 edition. The heroes will certainly be welcomed with incredible public fervor this Sunday, August 31st, in the streets of the Malagasy capital.
5086.85 ar
4467.58 ar
