Sports Groove

...Wins on penalties to pick CHAN 2024 final ticket  ...Now to face Madagascar on Saturday  By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by MWN     Morocco advanced to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final by defeating defending champion Senegal in a tense penalty shootout at Mandela National Stadium on Tuesday.  The semifinal match ended 1-1 after extra time, with the Atlas Lions eventually prevailing 5-3 on penalties. The match started with both teams showing caution. Senegal broke the deadlock in the 16th minute when Joseph Layousse headed home from Libasse Gueye’s corner kick. Morocco responded quickly, equalizing in the 22nd minute through Sabir Bougrine. The midfielder’s right-footed shot from outside the box found the back of the net past Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Diouf. The first half saw additional drama when Senegal’s Moussa Cisse received a yellow card in the 7th minute for a hard foul on Youssef Mehri. Both teams created ch...

...Madagascar will now face Morocco in Saturday’s final ...They will be seeking their first-ever CHAN championship       Amid a thrilling semifinal encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Madagascar secured a historic 1-0 victory over Sudan in the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. Playing with one man down, the resilient island nation advanced to their first-ever CAF final at the senior level after Toky Rakotondraibe’s decisive goal in the closing minutes of extra time. The breakthrough came in the 115th minute when Rakotondraibe, who entered as a substitute in the 64th minute, found the back of the net with an assist from Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa. This crucial goal came against all odds, as Madagascar had been reduced to ten men following Fenohasina Razafimaro’s red card in the 78th minute. The match was intensely physical, with nine yellow cards distributed throughout – five for Madagascar and four for Sudan.   Both teams struggled ...

…West, Central lost three representatives each in the group stage …All four from East Africa still in the race By Maxwell Kumoye        Hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have all secured the passage to the last eight of the African Nations Championship following the conclusion of the group phase. Kenya, who has been a surprise package in the African Nations Championship, emerged as winners of Group A, booking their place in the last eight alongside runners-up Morocco. In Group B, Tanzania topped the Group while Madagascar joined them after showing impressive resilience to progress. Group C, saw Uganda delight their home supporters by securing first place, with Algeria also advancing after a tightly fought campaign. The drama of Group D produced qualification for Sudan, who clinched top spot, while Senegal completed the list of quarter-finalists as runners-up. A look at the quarter finals lineup shows that West Africa that presented  four teams, is lef...