Staff Reporter.
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
Morocco became the first back-to-back winners of the African Nations Championship (Chan) when they scored twice after corners to defeat Mali 2-0 in the final in Yaounde on Sunday.
Soufiane Bouftini broke the deadlock on 69 minutes and captain Ayoub el Kaabi doubled the lead 10 minutes later to ensure the north Africans created history.
It was the second Chan final loss for Mali, after 2016, and they are still seeking a first Confederation of African Football (CAF) senior national team success.
Morocco won five of six matches at a tournament reserved for home-based players, scored 15 goals and conceded only three as they matched the Democratic Republic of Congo in lifting the trophy twice.
Morocco went into the title decider as favourites having scored 12 goals against Uganda, Zambia and hosts Cameroon in their previous three matches.
Mali had managed just one goal in their last three outings, eliminating Congo Brazzaville and Guinea in penalty shootouts after goalless quarterfinal and semifinal stalemates following extra time.
Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi began the final as the leading scorer in the competition with five goals and Malian Issaka Samake was yellow carded after only six minutes for a foul on the Golden Boot chart-topper.
When Rahimi was fouled a third time, just outside the box, Morocco almost went ahead from the resultant free-kick, which goalkeeper Djigui Diarra parried and the loose ball was hastily cleared.
Moussa Kone fluffed a great chance to put Mali in front midway through the opening half when he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Anas Zniti, one of two survivors from the 2018 Chan-winning team.
But Zniti blocked a shot with his right foot and then grasped the ball to the relief of his defenders, who had been caught cold by a quick lofted pass.
Lone forward Kone came close again when his header off a cross flew narrowly wide at the 40 0000-seat Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, where the crowd was restricted to 10 000 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As the first half ended 0-0, Mali coach Nouhoum Diane would have been happier than Moroccan counterpart Houcine Ammouta as the west Africans had largely nullified the threat of Rahimi and his teammates.
A long VAR delay 10 minutes into the second half ended with Moroccan appeals for a penalty being denied and almost immediately Malian Sadio Kanoute nodded just wide off a free-kick.
Kone had another chance to break the deadlock midway through the second half but fired straight at Zniti from close range.
In a tight, physical clash it took a defender to break the deadlock with Bouftini putting Morocco in front by heading a corner wide of Diarra and into the net.
El Kaabi put the issue beyond doubt with a brave close-range header and Mali were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Samake was sent off after a second yellow card.
Meanwhile 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 on Saturday in the third-place playoff.
The tournament also served as a test event for Cameroon, who next January host the 24-team Africa Cup of Nations finals.