As the sun sets over Dar es Salaam, the stage is set for an exhilarating quarterfinal match. Co-hosts Tanzania are ready to take on Morocco, a footballing giant and one of the most triumphant nations in the storied history of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). The electrifying atmosphere promises a thrilling showdown this Friday.
This encounter is historic, marking the first time Tanzania and Morocco meet at CHAN. For Tanzania, this match represents a bold new chapter, being their inaugural clash against a North African team in this prestigious tournament.
As Tanzania steps onto the pitch, they will be playing their 11th match in CHAN history, while Morocco stands as their 10th different adversary. For Morocco, this is their seventh face-off against an East African opponent, boasting an impressive record of three victories, two draws, and just one loss in their previous encounters.
Morocco has showcased their prowess against East African teams, securing emphatic wins over Uganda (3-0 in 2014, 5-2 in 2020) and a commanding 4-1 victory against Rwanda in 2016. They have also endured tense stalemates with both Rwanda and Sudan (0-0 in 2020 and 2018 respectively). However, this tournament has seen Morocco stumble, with a surprising 1-0 defeat against Kenya, their only setback against teams from East Africa.
This match signifies a new milestone; for the first time, Morocco will compete against an East African nation in the knockout rounds. As they prepare to face Tanzania, they will take to the field against their 21st unique opponent in CHAN history.
Morocco is no stranger to playing in hostile environments, having faced tournament hosts three times before. They triumphed against Rwanda (4-1 in 2014) and Cameroon (4-0 in 2020), yet experienced disappointment this year against Kenya.
As the teams clash, the battle between formidable defense and dynamic offense will be palpable.
Tanzania has demonstrated remarkable defensive resilience, conceding only one goal so far—the joint fewest in the entire tournament.
In contrast, Morocco is a relentless attacking force, having netted an astonishing eight goals, the most by any team. The statistics reveal Morocco’s shot conversion rate at 18.6% (eight goals from 23 shots on target) against Tanzania’s 10.42% (five goals from 17 shots on target), underlining the exciting contrast between the two sides. Furthermore, Tanzania has shown superior tenacity in tackles, winning 45 compared to Morocco’s 29.
Tanzania Statistics
- This marks Tanzania’s maiden journey into the knockout stages of CHAN.
- In their previous two appearances (2009 and 2020), they faced early elimination in the group stages.
- The team has confidently navigated the 2024 group stage, remaining undefeated with three victories and one draw, only conceding once.
- They are on a six-match unbeaten streak (four wins and two draws) since their last loss to Zambia in 2020.
- With three wins in this year’s finals, they’ve already outperformed their past six matches, where they managed only two victories combined.
- Remarkably, they’ve kept three clean sheets in 2024, surpassing the total of two from all previous tournaments.
- Tanzania failed to score in just one of their last five matches—a stalemate against the Central African Republic.
- A remarkable 591 passes were attempted against CAR, showcasing their tactical prowess, with Dickson Job completing an impressive 98 of 106 passes and Ibrahim Hamid with an impeccable completion of 104 passes, achieving a staggering accuracy of 96.2%.
Morocco Statistics
- Morocco has garnered momentum, clinching victories in their last two matches, both with convincing 3-1 scores (against Zambia and DRC).
- The last time they achieved three consecutive wins in CHAN was in 2020, when they orchestrated four consecutive triumphs.
- Remarkably, they have only suffered one defeat in their last 17 matches (14 wins, two draws, and one loss), the 1-0 setback to Kenya in this tournament.
- This is Morocco’s fourth appearance in the quarterfinals, where they hold a record of two wins and one loss in three matches.
- They faced a heartbreaking defeat in their first quarterfinal in 2014 (4-3 to Nigeria) but have since redeemed themselves by winning their last two quarterfinals (2-0 against Namibia in 2018 and 3-1 against Zambia in 2020).
- Their knockout record is impressive, with seven games played, resulting in six victories and only one loss.
- The only blemish in their knockout history occurred against Nigeria in 2014; since then, they have amassed six straight knockout victories.
- All their knockout triumphs have been secured in regular time, with only one match extending into extra time (2018 semifinal against Libya, concluding in a 3-1 victory).
- A win against Tanzania would cement Morocco’s status as a formidable contender, granting them their third semifinal appearance, following successful runs in 2018 and 2020.
- Their knockout scoring resume showcases 21 goals for and six against, highlighted by four clean sheets.
- Remarkably, they have scored in all seven knockout matches, consistently finding the net at least twice in each.
- Oussama Lamiloui currently shares the title of top scorer in the tournament, netting three goals, including a sensational brace against DRC.
- Youssef Mehri stands out as the leader in assists, boasting three and creating eight chances, tying with Imad Riahi.
- Defensively, Morocco has retained only one clean sheet in four matches—marking their lowest defensive performance at this stage in any edition.
With the stadium packed and the stakes high, fans eagerly await this monumental clash, where passion, pride, and skill will collide on the grandest stage of African football.
