By Daily sports on February 7, 2021

Morocco will be hoping to retain their Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) title when they meet Mali in Sunday’s final at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon.

The Atlas Lions will also be chasing the history of being the first country to win a second successive title in the tournament, designed exclusively for home-based players.

The North Africans will play a formidable opponent whose mission is to prevent them winning the title back-to-back, a feat never achieved after five editions of the tournament.

Morocco will seek to emulate DR Congo who won the title in 2009 and 2016 after the Atlas Lions won the previous tournament on home soil in 2018.

"We hope to win the trophy for the second time in a row. We are going to play our game, with a concentrated and determined start,” said Moroccan coach Houcine Ammouta.

“It is true that we are favorites, because statistically we have the best numbers. For us, everything has been positive. Sunday, it will be necessary to create the same environment as in previous matches to repeat the feat and win the trophy.”

Although far from their home crowd, the Moroccans have the firm conviction that they have the will to prove that they haven’t come this far for nothing, especially since they ousted the host country.

The Atlas Lions eliminated Cameron at the semi-finals stage and they did it with some class by hammering the Indomitable Lions by 4-0 on Wednesday but they are aware of the threat posed by the Malians.

“Mali is a solid team defensively. In the final, we have to be focused and decisive, especially in attack to push them to open the game which will allow us to play higher level of football. The game will be played on details,” said the former coach of Wydad Casablanca.

“It is true that this Sunday we are going to play a second final of CHAN Total after that of 2016 but this time, we will enter with the firm idea of winning the trophy,” said the Mali coach Nouhoum Diane whose side reached the final of the 2016 edition.

“We have the possibility of doing something. We will play against Morocco, a great team, but psychologically we are ready. I think the matches are not the same. Morocco have some talented forwards and it’s up to us to stop them so they don’t score like they did in their previous matches.

“Physically, the players have recovered after two long matches and this is thanks to the great work done by the medical staff. As I often say, everything will be decided during the meeting.”

This Malian side includes players who were Under-17 World Champions in 2015 but also some who were crowned with the Under-20s during the U20 AFCON in 2019.

Meanwhile, in Saturday’s third-place match, Morlaye Sylla scored his third goal and Mamadouba Bangoura his first at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as Guinea defeated hosts Cameroon 2-0 in Douala.

Sylla put the Elephants ahead on nine minutes in the coastal city by dribbling past several opponents before unleashing a shot that was deflected by Pierre Etame over goalkeeper Haschou Kerrido into the net.

Etame was also partly to blame for the second goal in first-half stoppage time as he initially hesitated to pursue Bangoura, waiting for an offside call, and the Guinean darted clear to score.

Cameroon were booed off the pitch at half-time by a crowd restricted to 25 percent of the 40,000 capacity of the Stade Reunification due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The hosts performed better in the second half, dominating possession, but could not find a way past impressive goalkeeper Moussa Camara.

To their credit, Cameroon never stopped attacking and a Joel Ngon header off an Anthony Mfede free-kick flashed just wide deep in stoppage time.

Finishing third was the best showing by Guinea in three Nations Championship appearances, surpassing fourth place in Rwanda five years ago.

The final between defending champions Morocco and Mali is set for Yaounde on Sunday with FIFA president Gianni Infantino expected to attend.

Although the tournament is restricted to home-based players, matches carry full international status and count toward the monthly FIFA world rankings.

•Based on reports by PANA, NAN and AFP. PHOTO: Action in the Guinea vs Cameroon third-place match.

Source Daily sports

Posted February 7, 2021

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