NAIROBI, Kenya — As the group stage clock dey tick, Morocco and Zambia don gear up for one crucial face-off wey go happen today. Na only victory fit keep their TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 dreams alive. That na wetin dey at stake at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Pride dey on the line o, as both teams don see better starts turn to bad vibes. Morocco don suffer shock defeat to Kenya, and e don put dem for serious wahala. Meanwhile, Zambia don lose two matches, testing dem grit and determination. But no wahala, for tournament football, na wetin you fit do now go matter pass anything wey happen before (past na past!).
Zambia coach Avram Grant don talk am clear: dem dey for must-win territory. “We no plan to lose the two games, but e be dis way,” he yarn. “We dey focus on wetin we fit do, no copy Morocco. We go respect dem, but we go play wetin go fit work for us.” Grant, wey experience don carry am through World Cups and finals, require sharp mindset shift from him players.
He dey expect dem to bounce back: “No game dey perfect. We don get chances, but no be all chances go land goal. We go put our heads together, mentality dey important. We go fight for this win.” If Zambia fit take this one, dem no go just come off bottom for Group A, dem go still hold onto hope for quarter-finals.
On the other side, Morocco coach Tarik Sektioui dey face in own survival mission. Him Atlas Lions dey fourth for di group and no fit afford any more slip-ups. “We don learn plenty lessons after di defeat to Kenya, and we dey focus to take three points against Zambia,” he don talk.
Sektioui dey spend time wey dey since di loss to tighten tactics and correct some small-small errors. “The lessons wey we learn go help us face Zambia. We don check our performance and we need to correct our shortcomings.” And him no dey underestimate di matter at all. “E no go easy, because nowadays no team dey weak. Everybody dey sharp with tactics and preparation.”
Zambia’s defense dey shakier than a jenga tower on the brink, especially down their right flank, where enemies don notice dem dey expose. Na there four goals wey dem don concede come from. Morocco go dey ready to chop dis one! Players like Youssef Belaamari fit make difference if dem fit combine quick runs with proper link-up to penetrate Chipolopolo defense.
But Morocco dey struggle with finishing their chances. Against Kenya, dem dey miss plenty clear chances, with poor timing for dem passes. Di wide players need to stretch Zambia’s defense, force dem to make mistakes and be sharper with dem finishing.
Morocco’s Amine Souane don hype him teammates: “Preparations dey go well, and every player don sabi wetin dey at stake.” E too don mention say dem need to change di mindset from di heartbreak against Kenya. “We lack finish touch before, but dat one don pass. Next match we go change our approach well-well to secure victory.”
So here be di gist – for one side, na win go keep dem dream alive, and for di other side, na lose go mean dem journey don end prematurely. This na big moment for Zambia to turn their faltering campaign into one of resilience, while Morocco dey push to show say dem fit still be lion wey dey roar on di African stage. When di whistle blow for Nairobi, one team go celebrate survival, while di other go experience heartbreak.
