It was a decisive day in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) group stage as Kenya and Morocco sealed important wins in Nairobi, with the final round of Group A matches staged simultaneously at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.

Kenya 1-0 Zambia: Ogam Delivers, Stars Book Nairobi Quarterfinal

Playing in front of an expectant yet reduced-capacity crowd at Kasarani Stadium, Kenya knew exactly what was at stake ,a victory would not only secure top spot in Group A but also guarantee a home quarterfinal, thus avoiding a taxing trip to Tanzania. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), however, had sanctioned the country following crowd incidents in the previous group match, restricting ticket sales to just 60% of the stadium’s 48,000-student capacity ;only 27,000 fans were allowed in. Despite the relatively muted atmosphere, Harambee Stars began brightly but were repeatedly let down by poor decision-making in the final third. It was a half defined by missed chances, with David Sakwa once again the chief culprit. The tide turned after the hour mark, when Ulinzi Stars forward Boniface Muchiri was introduced for Sakwa in the 58th minute. Muchiri immediately invigorated the left flank with his quick feet and clever movement, unsettling the Zambian fullback. His impact was decisive , in the 75th minute, he linked up brilliantly with Ryan Ogam, whose clinical finish finally broke the deadlock after prolonged frustration. All the while, fans kept one eye on developments at Nyayo Stadium, where Morocco’s lead over DR Congo briefly threatened to demote Kenya to second place.

The opening 45 minutes were largely controlled by the Harambee Stars, who asserted themselves early with a high pressing game that unsettled Zambia’s rhythm. Kenya’s midfield trio dictated the tempo, frequently winning back possession and launching quick transitions that kept the visitors pinned back in their own half. Despite dominating territory and possession, the Harambee Stars were initially limited to half-chances, with their final ball often lacking precision.

Austin Odhiambo looked lively in the attacking third, frequently drifting between the lines and testing the Zambian backline with clever through balls. His curling effort in the 7th minute forced a scrambling clearance, setting the tone for Kenya’s early intent. Ryan Ogam, too, was a constant threat with his movement off the ball. In the 10th minute, he nearly broke the deadlock, arriving late at the near post to meet a low cross from Lewis Bandi, only to see his sliding effort drift agonizingly wide of the far post.

Zambia, though under pressure, had moments of their own. Their attacking spark came primarily through Lameck Banda Mumba, who showcased pace and dribbling ability on the flanks. In the 23rd minute, he combined well with Kabaso Chongo down the right, breaking into the box, but Chongo’s final shot lacked conviction and was comfortably gathered by Kenyan goalkeeper Faruk Shikalo ,the only real moment he was called into action during the half.

As the match progressed into the second half, the Harambee Stars continued to build momentum. The introduction of fresh legs in midfield added more energy to their press, and Zambia struggled to cope. The breakthrough finally came in the latter stages of the match, rewarding Kenya’s persistence and attacking initiative.

Bonface Muchiri, who had been a constant outlet on the left flank since introduction, received the ball in space near the touchline. With a quick change of pace, he cut inside, evading his marker with a deft feint. Spotting a gap in Zambia’s defensive line, he threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ryan Ogam. The striker took a sharp first touch to control the ball under pressure, spun expertly away from his marker, and unleashed a thunderous left-footed shot that zipped through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the back of the net. The finish was emphatic , a goal of real quality that capped a dominant display and ultimately proved decisive in a match of high stakes.

Both teams rang changes in the aftermath. Kenya introduced fresh legs in Sakari, Manzur Okwaro, and Felix Oluoch to maintain tempo and protect the lead, while Zambia attempted a comeback with four second-half substitutions; first , a double Substitution in 61st minute – Sichalwe & Kasangwa and Chepeshwi & Bwalya later in the match . But the visitors never truly recovered, their attacks lacking cohesion and invention. Charles Kalumba in the Zambian goal was called into action once more to deny Daniel Sakari’s long-range effort ,one of several key saves that kept the scoreline respectable.

As the clock ticked down, Kenya slowed the tempo, keeping possession in Zambia’s half and seeing out the match professionally. The result secured top spot for the hosts, who finish the group unbeaten and will now prepare for a quarterfinal at home, much to the relief of the fans and technical bench.

Morocco 3-1 DR Congo: Atlas Lions Roar Back to Life at Nyayo

Over at Nyayo Stadium, Morocco delivered a second-half masterclass to keep their CHAN hopes alive with a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over DR Congo. Like Arsenal needing a final-day win to stay in title contention, the Atlas Lions were under pressure to deliver and they did, especially in the final 20 minutes.

Oussama Lamlioui opened the scoring early in the 8th minute with a stunning long-range strike that stunned the Congolese defence. Morocco were in control for much of the opening stages but were punished in the 41st minute when Jephté Kitambala equalised for DR Congo after a clever assist from Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb. That goal sent the teams into the break level at 1-1, and set up a tense second half.

The second period started tightly, with neither side able to stamp authority. However, Morocco slowly grew into the game. In the 70th minute, they were awarded a penalty following a foul in the area. Mohamed Rabie Hrimat stepped up and slotted home with confidence to restore Morocco’s lead. DR Congo tried to respond, but looked leggy and short on ideas as Morocco asserted control.

The game was sealed ten minutes later, when Lamlioui grabbed his second of the night, this time with another thunderous effort from distance, beating the keeper at his near post. At 3-1, Morocco simply played out the final minutes with composure. DR Congo’s earlier energy fizzled out, and the hosts saw out the match without further incident.

Group A Wrap & What It Means

With Kenya’s win over Zambia, they top Group A and earn the right to play their quarterfinal in Nairobi against Madagascar, a huge advantage as the tournament enters its knockout phase. Morocco, meanwhile, with the win, leapfrogged DR Congo to finish second in the group.

This means Morocco will now travel to Dar Es Salaam to face Tanzania , a challenging fixture in potentially hostile conditions. DR Congo, on the other hand, are eliminated, paying the price for failing to manage the second half against Morocco.

For Kenya, the mission is clear: keep the momentum going on home soil. For Morocco, the path remains difficult but far from over. CHAN 2024 is heating up.