Morocco Coach Reveals Top Priority in Race For CHAN 2024 Group A Top Spot Against Harambee Stars

At Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Thursday night, Morocco rediscovered their winning touch in emphatic style.

Just days after a shock 1-0 defeat to Kenya, the Atlas Lions A’ roared back with a commanding 3-1 victory over Zambia in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) — a result that steadied their campaign and kept them firmly in contention for a quarter-final place.

Head coach Tarik Sektioui could not hide his pride at full-time, praising the professionalism and determination of his squad in navigating what he described as a tricky fixture.

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“We have an admirable squad that I salute for their professionalism and their mental strength. We ‘called on them for help’ for this CHAN and they responded despite the lack of preparation and the complicated situation,” Sektioui said.“Despite everything, their level is good and we collected six points,” Sektioui said.

For him, the win was more than just three points — it was proof of the team’s capacity to respond to adversity.

“I am happy with this victory, and happy with the playing time some players have received. I warmly salute them. In times of difficulty, they have shown themselves to be great — psychologically, mentally…”

Although Zambia arrived under pressure after two straight losses, Sektioui knew they could still cause trouble.

“It was not easy to approach a match against a team that had suffered two defeats in a row. We expected a reaction. 

“The tactical discipline and technical quality of our players played a role. We missed many opportunities but we have moved forward since the defeat against Kenya. This time the danger came from everywhere in our attack,” he explained.

That attacking variety paid off. Mohamed Hrimat, Oussama Lamlaoui, and Sabir Bougrine found the net, while Morocco’s defence absorbed Zambia’s spirited spells of pressure.

“The players were mentally strong and managed this match well to achieve this deserved victory. The players showed up. I salute their determination and their will to win.”

He also pointed to the team’s rhythm and execution in both halves:

“We had a good start and a good finish to the match. The game was very difficult because Zambia’s attacking team was threatening on several occasions. 

“The players, thanks to their individual qualities and tactical discipline, were there in this match. We missed a lot of chances, but we were better in zone three compared to the last match against Kenya.”

With six points from three matches, Morocco now face DR Congo -who beat Angola 2-0 at Kasarani Stadium - in a decisive group finale. Both sides are level on points, setting up a high-stakes clash for top spot in Group A.

Kenya, who have also already qualified for the knockout rounds, will be facing Zambia on Sunday at the same time at Kasarani, knowing a win will be enough for them to qualify for the knockout rounds.

“For us, it’s simple, we have to win this match and the work will start tomorrow because we don’t have much time,” the coach insisted.

The winner will almost certainly secure a prime position heading into the knockouts, while Kenya’s parallel fixture against Zambia could also shape the quarter-final picture.

Morocco’s display against Zambia was a statement of intent, blending tactical discipline, mental fortitude, and attacking variety. But with DR Congo looming, Sektioui knows the margins will be tighter.

For now, his players have shown that when called upon, they will answer — and the race for Group A supremacy remains wide open.