Atlas Lions roar ends Taifa Stars cup dream

Morocco and Tanzania players fight for the ball during their CHAN 2024 match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 22, 2025. [Kipsanga Joseph, Standard]

The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam was already a theater of noise long before hosts Taifa Stars and Morocco's Atlas Lions quarter finals clash on Saturday.

Thousands of Tanzanian fans draped in green and yellow were huddled over their phones following the penalty shootout between Kenya and Madagascar in the earlier quarter-final.

Every miss from Harambee Stars drew roars of laughter while every strike by Madagascar sparked wild applause.

And when Kenya finally crashed out of the competition, the stadium erupted not because Taifa stars had scored but because their noisy neighbours had fallen.

It was more than football, it was banter wrapped in rivalry which had lasted for weeks trading jabs over whose team was the best.

Tanzania wanted two victories, one at the pitch against Morocco and one off the pitch in the name of Kenya's downfall. The second one came early and was received with cheers, dance and chants across the terraces.

Then, as the clock struck 8pm attention turned to real battle, riding on the energy of their home crowd the Taifa stars pressed high their midfield duo Yusuph Kagoma and Faisal Salum alias Fai Toto forcing the North Africans into early defensive work.

Both Feisal and Clement Mzize tested Morocco's custodian Elmehdi Al Harrar who manned his area well.

Despite the intensity, the scoreboard read 0-0 at halftime but not without drama, Morocco's Mohamed Boulassoute went into the referees book in the 34 minute followed by Tanzania's Kagoma at 37th minute.

The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute when Morocco's Tassine Belammari sliced through Tanzania's midfield and whipped in a low cross.

Oussama Lamlioui drifted behind the home side defence and finished clinically past Yakoub Suleiman Ali, sending the almost fully packed stadium into deafening silence, save for Moroccan supporters who were celebrating wildly.

Tanzania coach Hemed 'Morocco' Suleiman admitted his side's missed chances proved costly.

"We fought the entire 90 minutes in the first half. We had many chances but did not utilize them. At this stage, if you did not take your chance, your opponent will take them. It is what happened to us but I thank my players, they showed we can compete with anyone," said Suleiman.

"I think you have also realised we do not have strikers," he said.

For Morocco, it was all about experience and composure. Mohamed Hrimat, who was named Man of the Match said the competition is one step to their bigger goal.

"This was never going to be easy in front of such a mammoth crowd, but we normally do not waste opportunities, we play for our people and for our badge," he said.

Morocco coach Tarik Sektioui was also impressed.

"Tanzania were tactically sharp and had the crowd behind them but my players showed determination and responsibility," Sektioui said.