Football fans searching for the morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups now have a complete, data backed breakdown of how this African Nations Championship Group A encounter actually unfolded. Played at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, August 3, 2025, the match saw Morocco edge past Angola 2-0 in a contest that was far closer than the scoreline suggests. This article covers every detail fans need: starting lineups, substitutions, goals, statistics, player ratings, tactical breakdowns, and what the result means for both nations going forward.
Introduction
The clash between Morocco and Angola formed part of the opening round of Group A fixtures at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a biennial tournament reserved for home based players who compete in their domestic leagues. Hosted across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, this edition gave both Morocco and Angola a chance to test their locally based talent on a continental stage. Anyone researching morocco vs angola will find that this fixture carried real weight, since both teams arrived with strong recent form and needed a positive start to their group campaign.
Morocco came into the match unbeaten in 14 consecutive matches and had won their previous 12 fixtures, making them firm favorites despite Angola’s recent attacking form. The morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups confirmed two mirrored 4-4-2 setups, setting up a tactical battle between Moroccan defensive discipline and Angolan possession based football.
Match Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Morocco vs Angola |
| Date | Sunday, August 3, 2025 |
| Kickoff Time | 15:00 UTC |
| Competition | African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, Group A, Round 1 |
| Venue | Nyayo National Stadium |
| City, Country | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Stadium Capacity | 30,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Referee | Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon) |
| Final Score | Morocco 2, Angola 0 |
| Half Time Score | Morocco 1, Angola 0 |
| Man of the Match | Imad Riahi (Morocco), rated 8.0 |
Both Team Lineups
The morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups were announced roughly an hour before kickoff, with both managers, Tarik Sektioui for Morocco and Pedro Goncalves for Angola, opting for an identical 4-4-2 shape.
Morocco Starting XI (4-4-2)
| No. | Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Mehdi Al Harrar | Goalkeeper | 8.0 |
| 4 | Marouane Louadni | Right Back | 7.2 |
| 20 | Mohamed Moufid | Centre Back | 7.4 |
| 17 | Youssef Belammari | Centre Back | 7.5 |
| 3 | Anas Bach | Left Back | 7.4 |
| 24 | Mohamed Rabie Hrimat | Right Midfield | 7.8 |
| 8 | Khalid Ait Ouarkhane | Central Midfield | 6.7 |
| 13 | Bouchaib Arrassi | Central Midfield | 6.8 |
| 19 | Ayoub Mouloua | Left Midfield | 6.7 |
| 25 | Anas El Mahraoui | Striker | 6.4 |
| 18 | Imad Riahi | Striker | 8.0 |
Coach: Tarik Sektioui
Morocco Substitutes Used
| No. | Player | Position | Minute On | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Khalid Baba | Attacker | 67′ | 6.5 |
| 7 | Mohamed Boulacsou | Defender | 79′ | 5.9 |
| 11 | Youness El Kaabi | Attacker | 79′ | 6.1 |
| 15 | Abdelhak Assal | Defender | 81′ | N/A |
| 14 | Amine Souane | Attacker | 90′ | N/A |
Angola Starting XI (4-4-2)
| No. | Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Neblu | Goalkeeper | 6.8 |
| 21 | Eddie Afonso | Right Back | 5.7 |
| 5 | Kinito | Centre Back | 5.1 |
| 15 | Vidinho | Centre Back | 6.6 |
| 2 | Antonio Hossi | Left Back | 6.3 |
| 8 | Aguinaldo | Right Midfield | 5.8 |
| 4 | Alem | Central Midfield | 7.2 |
| 9 | Mafuta Afonso | Central Midfield | 7.1 |
| 13 | Gogoro | Left Midfield | 6.6 |
| 19 | Jo Paciencia | Striker | 6.6 |
| 7 | Gilberto | Striker | 6.3 |
Coach: Pedro Goncalves
Angola Substitutes Used
| No. | Player | Position | Minute On | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Vanilson | Midfielder | 57′ | 6.6 |
| 14 | Mabele | Defender | 67′ | 6.2 |
| 3 | Kaporal | Attacker | 77′ | 5.9 |
| 11 | Lepua | Midfielder | 77′ | 5.8 |
Match Events
A minute by minute look at how the morocco vs angola fixture developed:
- 23′: Yellow card shown to Aguinaldo (Angola)
- 29′: GOAL, Imad Riahi puts Morocco 1-0 up, assisted by Mohamed Rabie Hrimat
- 35′: Yellow card shown to Ayoub Mouloua (Morocco)
- 45′: Yellow card shown to Marouane Louadni (Morocco)
- 57′: Substitution for Angola, Vanilson replaces Aguinaldo
- 67′: Double change, Khalid Baba on for Imad Riahi (Morocco); Mabele on for Gogoro (Angola)
- 77′: Double change for Angola, Kaporal replaces Mafuta Afonso, Lepua replaces Antonio Hossi
- 79′: Morocco make a double substitution, Mohamed Boulacsou on for Anas El Mahraoui, Youness El Kaabi on for Khalid Ait Ouarkhane
- 81′: OWN GOAL, Kinito turns the ball into his own net, Morocco lead 2-0; Abdelhak Assal replaces Ayoub Mouloua for Morocco
- 90′: Amine Souane comes on for Anas Bach (Morocco)
- 90’+3: Full time, Morocco 2, Angola 0
No red cards were issued during the match.
Statistics
| Statistic | Morocco | Angola |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 41% | 59% |
| Total Shots | 7 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 2 |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 13 | 5 |
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | N/A | N/A |
| Fouls Committed | N/A | N/A |
The statistics reveal an interesting story behind the morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups. Despite controlling 59% of possession, Angola only managed two shots on target compared to Morocco’s five, highlighting a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Morocco’s 13 touches in the opposition box compared to Angola’s 5 also shows how much more dangerous Morocco was inside the penalty area.
Player Ratings
| Player | Team | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imad Riahi | Morocco | 8.0 | Scored the opener, named Man of the Match |
| El Mehdi Al Harrar | Morocco | 8.0 | Kept a clean sheet with key saves |
| Mohamed Rabie Hrimat | Morocco | 7.8 | Provided the assist for Riahi’s goal |
| Youssef Belammari | Morocco | 7.5 | Solid throughout at centre back |
| Mohamed Moufid | Morocco | 7.4 | Composed defensive display |
| Anas Bach | Morocco | 7.4 | Reliable at left back before being substituted |
| Alem | Angola | 7.2 | Angola’s best performer in midfield |
| Marouane Louadni | Morocco | 7.2 | Steady on the right side of defense |
| Mafuta Afonso | Angola | 7.1 | Created several chances before being subbed |
| Neblu | Angola | 6.8 | Made important stops to limit the damage |
Tactical Analysis
Tactically, the morocco vs angola contest was a classic case of efficiency beating dominance. Morocco’s 4-4-2 under Tarik Sektioui prioritized compactness and quick transitions, allowing Angola to control the ball for long stretches without creating high quality opportunities. Morocco’s back four, led by Youssef Belammari and Mohamed Moufid, held a disciplined defensive line and rarely allowed Angola’s forwards Jo Paciencia and Gilberto to operate in dangerous central areas.
In attack, Morocco relied on quick combinations between Mohamed Rabie Hrimat and the front two of Anas El Mahraoui and Imad Riahi. The opening goal came from exactly this kind of incisive movement, with Hrimat splitting the Angolan defense to tee up Riahi for a composed finish in the 29th minute.
Angola, under Pedro Goncalves, also used a 4-4-2 but leaned more heavily on patient build up play through Alem and Mafuta Afonso in central midfield. The wide men, Aguinaldo and Gogoro, were tasked with stretching Morocco’s defense, but their final balls into the box lacked precision. Angola’s profligacy in front of goal, combined with a costly own goal from Kinito in the 81st minute, ultimately decided the contest in Morocco’s favor. The morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups showed a side that controlled territory against a side that controlled the result.
Key Players Spotlight
Imad Riahi (Morocco): The standout performer of the match, Riahi scored the opening goal and was named Man of the Match with an 8.0 rating. His movement between the lines consistently troubled Angola’s back line before he was substituted in the 67th minute.
Mohamed Rabie Hrimat (Morocco): The architect behind Morocco’s opener, Hrimat’s vision and passing range made him a constant outlet for Morocco going forward, finishing the game with a 7.8 rating.
El Mehdi Al Harrar (Morocco): Despite facing more shots on target relative to his side’s dominance, Al Harrar produced a calm and composed performance between the posts to preserve the clean sheet, matching Riahi’s 8.0 rating.
Alem (Angola): Angola’s most influential player on the pitch, Alem dictated tempo from central midfield and was one of the few Angolan players to consistently break Morocco’s defensive shape, earning a 7.2 rating.
Mafuta Afonso (Angola): A constant attacking threat for Angola before his substitution in the 77th minute, Afonso’s energy and link up play kept Morocco’s defense alert throughout the first hour.
Head-to-Head Record
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Meetings | 3 |
| Morocco Wins | 1 |
| Angola Wins | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Latest Result | Morocco 2, Angola 0 |
The current head to head record between these two nations stands at one win apiece with one draw, making this rivalry tightly contested on paper even though Morocco’s recent form has tilted the balance firmly in their favor.
Recent Form
Morocco Last 5 Matches
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Morocco vs Benin | 1-0 |
| Morocco vs Tunisia | 2-0 |
| Morocco vs Tanzania | 2-0 |
| Niger vs Morocco | 1-2 |
| Lesotho vs Morocco | 0-7 |
Angola Last 5 Matches
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Angola vs South Africa | 3-0 |
| Angola vs Madagascar | 4-1 |
| Angola vs Cape Verde | 1-2 |
| Libya vs Angola | 1-1 |
| Sudan vs Angola | 0-0 |
Morocco’s form coming into this fixture was exceptional, having won 12 straight matches and remaining unbeaten in 14, a streak that this win against Angola extended further. Angola, while inconsistent in their last five outings, had shown they could score goals freely against weaker opposition but struggled for the same fluency against a well organized Moroccan side.
Squad Depth
Morocco’s bench strength was evident even without several key names. The squad was missing Achraf Dari, Azzedine Ounahi, and Oussama El Azzouzi, all sidelined through injury, yet Sektioui still had options such as Oussama Lamlioui, Sabir Bougrine, and Youssef Mehri available among the unused substitutes.
Angola, missing Randy Nteka and Zito Luvumbo through injury, also carried good depth on the bench, with goalkeepers Agostinho Calunga and Rui Honesimo, plus defenders Luis Caica and Manuel Lulas, available if needed. However, the four substitutions Goncalves made during the match, Vanilson, Mabele, Kaporal, and Lepua, failed to change the momentum decisively in Angola’s favor.
Tournament Implications
This result carries real significance within the broader context of the African Nations Championship Group A standings. As a competition exclusively for home based players, CHAN serves as a crucial showcase for domestic league talent across Africa, and a strong start in Group A puts Morocco in pole position to advance toward the knockout rounds. For Angola, the defeat means they will need positive results in their remaining group fixtures to keep their qualification hopes alive.
For fans tracking the morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups beyond this single match, the broader takeaway is that Morocco’s depth in domestic talent continues to translate into tournament success, building on a run of 12 consecutive wins. Angola, by contrast, will need to tighten their defensive organization and improve their conversion rate in the final third if they hope to progress further in this edition of CHAN.
Conclusion
The morocco vs angola fixture at Nyayo National Stadium delivered exactly the kind of tightly contested, statistically intriguing match that CHAN football is known for. Morocco’s clinical finishing, led by Man of the Match Imad Riahi, proved decisive against an Angolan side that dominated possession but could not translate control into goals. With both teams’ full morocco national football team vs angola national football team lineups, statistics, and ratings now documented, fans have a complete picture of how this Group A clash unfolded, and what it means heading into the rest of the tournament.
? Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the final score between Morocco and Angola?
Morocco won 2-0.
2. When was the Morocco vs Angola match played?
Sunday, August 3, 2025.
3. Where was the match held?
Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Who scored the goals for Morocco?
Imad Riahi in the 29th minute, plus an own goal by Angola’s Kinito in the 81st minute.
5. Who was named Man of the Match?
Imad Riahi of Morocco, with a rating of 8.0.
6. What formations did both teams use?
Both Morocco and Angola lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.
7. Which competition did this match belong to?
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, Group A, Round 1.
8. Who was the referee for the match?
Abdou Abdel Mefire from Cameroon.
Read More Football Match Lineup Reports:
- Uruguay National Football Team Vs Venezuela National Football Team Lineups
- Andorra National Football Team Vs England National Football Team Lineups
- Mexico National Football Team vs Switzerland National Football Team Lineups
- Suriname National Football Team Vs Mexico National Football Team Lineups
- Chile National Football Team Vs Argentina National Football Team Lineups
- Jamaica National Football Team Vs Guatemala National Football Team Lineups
- Honduras National Football Team Vs El Salvador National Football Team Lineups
- Poland National Football Team Vs Netherlands National Football Team Lineups
- Guadeloupe National Football Team Vs Guatemala National Football Team Lineups
