Morocco edges Madagascar 3-2 in pulsating CHAN 2024 final at Kasarani
Morocco clinched a heart-stopping 3-2 victory over Madagascar at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, August 30, 2025, claiming their third African Nations Championship (CHAN) title in history.
The encounter had fans on tenterhooks from the outset. Madagascar, making their debut in a CHAN final, drew first blood when Félicité Mantasoa drilled a precise shot past Morocco’s goalkeeper.
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The opener stunned the Kasarani faithful, proving that the island nation would not be cowed by Morocco’s pedigree or experience.
Morocco’s response was swift and calculated. Youssef Mehri levelled the score in the 27th minute, combining deft touches with composure in front of goal.
Before the break, Oussama Lamlaoui fired a brilliant finish, giving Morocco a 2-1 lead and injecting energy back into the home fans. The team’s fluid passing, sharp movement, and attacking precision demonstrated why they were tipped as favourites.
Madagascar refused to let the dream slip away.
Toky Rakotondraibe capitalised on a defensive lapse in the 68th minute to restore parity at 2-2, sending the match into a nerve-wracking climax.
Both sides launched relentless attacks, with swift counter-attacks and close-range chances keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
The breakthrough came in the dying moments of the match. Lamlaoui struck again with a thunderbolt that sealed the 3-2 win, triggering ecstatic celebrations as Morocco lifted the CHAN trophy amid deafening cheers.
Throughout the tournament, Morocco had showcased consistency, tactical acumen, and attacking brilliance across all three host nations—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Lamlaoui, the tournament’s top scorer, and playmaker Mehri were instrumental in orchestrating Morocco’s fluid attacking game and clinical finishing.
Semifinals
Madagascar’s fall comes just days after their historic run to the CHAN 2024 final, following a tense semifinal victory over Sudan on August 26, 2025.
The Barea had booked their place in the final after Toky Niaina Rakotondraibe scored the decisive goal in the 116th minute of extra time, sparking wild celebrations and marking Madagascar’s first-ever appearance in a CHAN final.
In that semifinal, Madagascar had edged Sudan 1-0 after a tightly contested encounter. Possession had been almost evenly split, with Madagascar holding 51 per cent to Sudan’s 49, while both sides created several chances, each registering four shots on target.
The game had grown increasingly physical, with 44 fouls called and four yellow cards issued to each side. A flashpoint had occurred in the 79th minute when Malagasy striker Fenohasina Gilles Razafimaro was initially shown a red card following a VAR review, only for it to be downgraded to yellow.
Despite briefly being reduced to ten men, Madagascar had regrouped and maintained pressure, ensuring their progression to the final.
The Barea’s journey to the semifinals had included a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Kenya in the quarterfinals on August 22, 2025. After Alphonce Omija had given the Harambee Stars the lead shortly after halftime, Madagascar had equalised through a penalty by Fenohasina Razafimanana in the 68th minute, sending the game into extra time.
With no goals scored in extra time, Madagascar held their nerve in the shootout to win 4-3, ending Kenya’s campaign and keeping their own historic run alive.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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