TACTICAL ANALYSIS: How Morocco overcame stubborn Madagascar to claim third CHAN title
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Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 31.08.25. | 19:36
Madagascar drew first blood in the ninth minute, capitalising on Morocco’s slow start and lack of defensive organisation
Morocco secured a historic third African Nations Championship (CHAN) title after edging Madagascar 3-2 in a thrilling final at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The Atlas Lions became the first side to win back-to-back CHAN titles in 2021 and 2023, and their triumph in this edition reinforced their dominance in the competition’s history.
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Madagascar, meanwhile, made history of their own, reaching their first-ever CHAN final, a remarkable achievement that showcased the rapid progress of football in the island nation.
The final was a spectacle that lived up to its billing.
Fans packed the iconic Kasarani Stadium, creating a lively atmosphere befitting a continental decider.
Morocco, who overcame Senegal on penalties in their semifinal, were favourites heading into the game, but Madagascar, fresh from a resilient victory over Sudan with ten men, proved they were no pushovers.
What followed was a five-goal thriller defined by contrasting tactical philosophies, moments of brilliance, and a bold display of attacking football from both sides.
Early pressure and Madagascar’s bright start
Both teams lined up in a base 4-2-3-1 formation but approached the game with contrasting strategies.
Morocco’s emphasis was on wing play and overlapping fullbacks to stretch Madagascar’s defensive block, while Madagascar played narrowly, both defensively and offensively, to dominate central areas and create overloads in midfield.
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Madagascar drew first blood in the ninth minute, capitalising on Morocco’s slow start and lack of defensive organisation.
Crisp passing exchanges through midfield created space for Félicité Mantasoa, who unleashed a thunderbolt from distance to open the scoring.
The goal highlighted Morocco’s early concentration lapses and their failure to close down spaces in their defensive third.
The early setback proved to be a wake-up call for Morocco.
Coach Hicham Dmiai adjusted his side’s shape into a compact 4-4-2 when defending, ensuring tighter marking in the final third and denying Madagascar the same central freedom they had exploited.
This adjustment laid the groundwork for Morocco’s resurgence.
Moroccan wing play and channel exploitation
Madagascar’s narrow shape became a double-edged sword.
While it allowed them to crowd the central midfield and limit Morocco’s build-up options through the middle, it also left significant space in the wide areas.
Morocco’s fullbacks, encouraged to push high and overlap, exploited these gaps with precision.
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Youssef Mehri and Khalid Baba, operating as inverted wingers, tucked inside to overload the penalty area, while Lamlioui’s presence as a focal point ensured Morocco had aerial superiority.
Crosses from both flanks became Morocco’s primary attacking weapon, and they were rewarded with two goals from wide deliveries, underlining Madagascar’s defensive vulnerability in the channels.
By halftime, Morocco had turned the game around, their tactical adjustments and wide play effectively countering Madagascar’s compactness.
Tactical shift in the second half
Having seized control, Morocco opted for a more conservative approach after the break, prioritising defensive solidity over attacking ambition.
Their fullbacks adopted a more reserved stance, and the rest defence shifted from two players in the first half to three or even four in the second, reducing their exposure to counterattacks.
Madagascar, struggling to find a way through Morocco’s well-drilled defensive block, switched to a more direct approach, bypassing midfield with long balls.
This tactical change bore fruit in the 68th minute when Nantenaina Randriamanampisoa launched a precise ball to Mantasoa, who flicked it into the path of Toky Rakotondraibe.
The midfielder calmly finished to restore parity, sparking hope of an upset.
Lamlioui’s moment of brilliance
As the game entered its final stages, Morocco’s class and individual quality made the difference. In the 80th minute, Lamlioui spotted Malagasy goalkeeper Toldo slightly off his line.
He unleashed an audacious strike from midfield, scoring what will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest goals in CHAN final history.
The moment of brilliance sealed Morocco’s victory and cemented Lamlioui’s status as the hero of the day.
Morocco’s tactical flexibility seals historic triumph
The final was a celebration of African football at its finest, offering a mix of tactical nuance, technical quality, and unforgettable moments.
Morocco’s adaptability proved decisive: their ability to adjust defensively after a shaky start, exploit wide areas, and switch to a more controlled approach in the second half highlighted their tactical maturity.
Madagascar, for their part, showed courage and creativity, making their maiden final appearance a showcase of their growth on the continental stage.
Ultimately, Morocco’s balance between attacking dynamism and defensive discipline carried them over the line, securing a third HAN title and reaffirming their status as the competition’s benchmark of excellence.
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