MATCH FACTS: Morocco and Madagascar meet in TotalEnergies CAF CHAN PAMOJA 2024 final

The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), PAMOJA 2024 reaches its climax with Morocco and Madagascar meeting in the final in Nairobi on Saturday.

The CHAN, reserved for players who play in their domestic leagues, has grown in stature since its launch in 2009, and this is its eighth final.

The trophy is one of CAF’s major continental honours, offering the chance for new champions to emerge or for history to be rewritten.

This is the first CHAN meeting between Madagascar and Morocco. Madagascar are making their debut in a CAF senior international final, while Morocco appear in their third CHAN final after 2018 and 2020. The Atlas Lions are two-time champions, having won both those editions.

Madagascar become the 13th different nation to reach the final, while a victory would make them the first Southern African team to lift the trophy. A win for Morocco would make them the most successful side in CHAN history with three titles.

Since 2011, at least one finalist has been a team that has never previously won the competition. If Madagascar triumph, it would be the second tournament in a row with new champions, following Senegal’s victory in 2022.

Madagascar are also the first island nation to contest a CHAN final. Both sides are playing their seventh match of the tournament – the most ever by any team in a single CHAN edition.

Madagascar – Key Facts

• Defeated Sudan 1-0 in the semi-final to reach their first CAF final.
• Went unbeaten in their last four games (W3 D1), after failing to win their opening two.
• Scored in five straight games, their longest run in CHAN history.
• Lost just once in their last seven matches (W4 D2), against Tanzania in the group stage.
• Knockout record: P5 W4 L1 (including penalties). Only defeat came in the 2022 semi-final vs Senegal.
• Goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa has three clean-sheets and 25 saves – the most of any keeper.
• Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa leads the team with three assists and 11 chances created.
• Toky Rakotondraibe has two goals, including the semi-final winner.

Morocco – Key Facts

• Beat Senegal on penalties in the semi-final to reach their third final.
• Won both previous finals: 4-0 vs Nigeria (2018), 2-0 vs Mali (2020).
• Knockout record: P9 W8 L1, with only loss vs Nigeria in 2014.
• Scored in all nine of their knockout matches in CHAN history.
• Only one defeat in their last 19 CHAN games (W15 D3).
• Scored 10 goals in this edition – their lowest tally in a run to the final.
• Youssef Mehri has 12 chances created and three assists, joint-most at the tournament.
• Oussama Lamlaoui is top scorer with four goals in five games.
• Sabir Boubrine scored his second goal in the semi-final vs Senegal.