Morocco will fight to keep their quarter-final hopes alive when they face Zambia on Thursday in a decisive CHAN 2024 Group A clash at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, with kick-off set for 14:00 GMT.
The Atlas Lions head into the match under mounting pressure after a 1-0 defeat to Kenya in their previous outing left them with no margin for error.
Tarik Sektioui’s side must take all three points to remain in contention ahead of a potentially decisive final group fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Preparation for the game has been far from ideal.
Morocco are without Ayoub Mouloua, sidelined through injury, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been fined $5,000 — with $2,500 suspended — for inappropriate behaviour by players during the tournament.
That sanction has accompanied criticism of the team’s lack of aggression and precision in their attacking play against Kenya.
The meeting with Zambia, however, presents a clear opportunity.
The Chipolopolo possess the weakest defensive record in Group A, conceding four goals in the tournament so far — all stemming from vulnerabilities on their right side.
Full-back Benedict Chepeshi has struggled against both Angola and the DRC, and Morocco will look to exploit this weakness to gain an advantage.
Youssef Belaamari and his fellow wide players are expected to play a crucial role in stretching Zambia’s defence.
Morocco’s approach is likely to involve varied runs and overlapping support to pull apart what could be a deep-lying Zambian block, much like Kenya successfully managed in their win over the Atlas Lions.
Yet, Sektioui has warned against complacency despite the apparent advantages.
Matches are won on the pitch, by wanting to fight for every ball, he stressed, noting that Zambia are capable of both sustained possession phases and aggressive pressing spells.
While their pressing can be disorganised, leaving gaps to exploit, Morocco must move the ball quickly and with accuracy to take advantage.
Beyond the tactical battle, the fixture will test Morocco’s mental resilience.
The team must find a sharper attacking rhythm and show greater determination in duels if they are to translate their technical quality into a result.
The stakes are clear: win, and they stay in the hunt; anything less, and their CHAN 2024 campaign could be over before the final group game.
For the Atlas Lions, Thursday is not just about points — it is about proving they have the fight, focus, and execution needed to survive in the competition.
