CHAN: Morocco Crowned Champions Again

Morocco became the first national side to win back-to-back the African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they scored twice after corners to defeat Mali 2-0 in the final in Yaounde on Sunday.

Soufiane Bouftini broke the deadlock on 69 minutes and captain Ayoub el Kaabi doubled the lead 10 minutes later to create history after Morocco hosted and won the previous edition three years ago.

It was the second Chan final loss for Mali, after 2016, and they are still seeking the first Confederation of African Football (CAF) senior national team success.

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Morocco won five of six matches at a tournament reserved for home-based players, scored 15 goals and conceded three.

The north Africans went into the title decider as favourites having scored 12 goals against Uganda, Zambia and hosts Cameroon in their previous three matches.

Mali had managed just one goal in their last three outings, eliminating Congo Brazzaville and Guinea in penalty shootouts after goalless quarterfinal and semifinal stalemates.

Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi began the final as the leading scorer with five goals and Malian Issaka Samake was yellow-carded after only six minutes for hacking down the Golden Boot chart-topper.

When Rahimi was fouled a third time, just outside the box, Morocco nearly went ahead from the resultant free-kick, which goalkeeper Djigui Diarra parried and the loose ball was hastily cleared.