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Some goals become legendary. From Gareth Bale’s bicycle kick goal vs Liverpool in the Champions League 2018 Final to Diego Maradona’s Goal of the Century in a 1986 match between Argentina and England. Last month, it was Morocco’s turn. Dramatically, Morocco won their third African Nations Championship (CHAN) title in six years, edging Madagascar 3-2 on August 17th in Nairobi, Kenya before 45,000 fans at Moi International Sports Centre.
Moroccan striker Oussama Lamlioui scored twice, including a spectacular 40-yard strike in the 79th minute to win the title. The goal went viral on social media and cemented Lamlioui’s status as a national legend.
Morocco’s Mohammed Hrimat was named the Player of the Tournament. Lamlioui, a forward with RS Berkane in Morocco’s Botola Pro league, took home the Golden Boot award with six goals.
Right place, right time
The victory means Morocco is now the most successful nation in CHAN tournament history having previously won in 2018 and 2020. CHAN first began in 2009 as an opportunity to showcase men’s soccer on the continent in a competition that is reserved for elite players active in their home countries. Soccer is indeed global, but tournaments like CHAN demonstrate the impressive level of talent available outside Europe. Of the tournament’s eight editions, five different nations have won the title.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the CHAN Final in Nairobi last month and congratulated Morocco on a great tournament run: “I am very happy for Morocco, which won its third CHAN title and showed that it fully deserves the trophy.” The presence of Infantino, along with the selection of Morocco to co-host in 2030, demonstrates both the impressive level of on-field play and the increasing importance of Africa as a soccer destination, not just a training ground.
For Morocco, a rising star in global soccer, attention turns to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and then jointly co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Morocco has played well so far and is FIFA’s highest-ranked African team—ranked 12th. Morocco is the only side with a perfect record in the preliminaries so far.
Next step for 2026: September 5 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The Atlas Lions face Niger as part of the 7th round (Group E) of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Morocco continues its infrastructure build-up in anticipation of the 2030 tournament that may see three-and-a-half million attendees across three host nations. From stadium upgrades and rebuilds to highway, rail, and accommodation upgrades, the investment in soccer talent in Morocco is paired with an investment in infrastructure that will serve both World Cup fans and locals in 2030 and beyond.
