Kinshasa, July 28th, 2025 (CPa).- Morocco was the first country to arrive in Kenya on Monday, co-organiser with Tanzania and Uganda of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) football tournament, which will take place from August 2nd to 30th, according to information obtained by CPA from the Moroccan media.
‘As the first foreign contingent to set foot on Kenyan soil ahead of CHAN 2024, Morocco was welcomed with great fanfare: traditional dances, regional songs and a warm reception from the welcoming committee,’ the report said. According to sources consulted by the CPA on Monday, this early trip to East Africa is not insignificant, as it puts them ahead of all the other teams, but rather sends a strong signal about their seriousness and ambition in this competition, adding that with just a few days to go before the official kick-off of the tournament, this early arrival allows them to make their final physical and tactical adjustments in what is now a familiar environment.
However, while the Moroccans have set up camp in Nairobi, Kenya, the Leopards A’ of DRC have been based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, since last weekend. Morocco in search of a hat-trick Crowned champions at home in 2018 and then in Cameroon in 2021, the Atlas Lions are among the favorites for this 8th edition of the CHAN. To date, only the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) shares with Morocco the status of double winner of the tournament. If they win again, the Moroccans will become the first to win three continental titles in this competition, which is reserved for players competing in national championships. The same is true of the Leopards of DRC, who were the first winners of the trophy in 2009 in Côte d’Ivoire and in 2016 in Rwanda. For the competition itself, Morocco is in Group A, alongside the host country, Kenya, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia. Next Sunday, the Atlas Lions will kick off their campaign against Angola at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Morocco’s schedule (Group A): Morocco-Angola, Sunday August 4th, 2024 in Nairobi, Morocco-Kenya, Wednesday August 7th, 2024 in Nairobi, Morocco-DR Congo: Saturday August 10th 2024 in Nairobi).