IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - CHAN DAY 21
Picture : This team of Madagascar made History !
Madagascar make historic appearance at CHAN final.
The Malagasy side, in their second consecutive CHAN semifinal appearance have not only reached the final for the first time after defeating Sudan 1/0, they are also the first team from the CAF southern zone to do so. Against Sudan at the disturbingly scanty Benjamin Nkapa Stadium Tuesday they played a man down as from the 77th minute holding firm to their one goal lead scored in the 116th minute of play. The scorer was COSFA's player, Toky Rakotonaraibe who connected an assist courtesy of Ryan Hery. What a moment to score the goal barely four minutes to post-match penalties! The impact-full feat would earn him the mvp award. To get to that stage, Sudan with previously two semifinal appearances brought on a group stage marksheet of a win, and two draws as opposed to Malagasy version of two wins, a draw and a loss. A purely physical game that would see Tunisian referee, Mehrez Melki brandish at least eight yellow cards by sunset. A 77th minute VAR check confirmed that Gilles Fenohasina had elbowed Mohamed Alrashed after he had earlier on been shown yellow. He was thus shown the way to the locker room. Brilliant goalkeeping by Ramandimbisoa Lalain'arinjaka and Mohamed Alnour kept the scoreline virgin until the 116th minute.
In the "final before the final" between defending champions, Senegal and twice holders, Morocco played at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala lived up to its billing. The average turnout were treated to great football. It took 17 minutes for Joseph Youssef Samb of Teungueth FC to head Senegal into the lead. But then Morocco would set the records straight six minutes later through the commendable effort of Raja Casablanca's Sabir Bougrine who pelted keeper Arona Diouf with a thunderbolt from just outside the box. Close misses from both sides plus brilliant goalkeeping to the credit of Elmehdi Al Harrar and Arona Diouf maintained the 1/1 situation stretching the match through 120 minutes. South Africa referee Kelly Alfred Chavani had a firm grip of the game and even consulting VAR to come back to his red card earlier shown Moroccan Marouan Louadni. In the shootout, Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Oussama Lamlioui, Ayoub Khairi, Anas Bach and Youssef Mehri scored for Morocco. Vieux Ciss, Baye Assane and Daouda Ba scored for Senegal. The lone blemish came from Union Sportive Gireene's Seyni Mbaye Ndiaye whose shot ricocheted on the woodwork. Morocco's Youssef Bellamari took the mvp award.
On Friday, Senegal take on Sudan for the third spot match 24 hours before the 9th CHAN final pitting Madagascar against Morocco.