Zambia head coach Avram Grant has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the officiating at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), following his side’s early exit from the tournament. The Chipolopolo were eliminated from Group A after a 3-1 loss to Morocco at Nyayo Stadium, a match overshadowed by a controversial refereeing decision.
The turning point came in the 64th minute when Zambia believed they had equalised. A scrambled effort appeared to cross the goal line, sparking celebrations among the Zambian players and a section of the Kenyan crowd. However, the referee ruled the goal out for a foul on Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar in the build-up a decision made without consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Grant was left baffled by the absence of VAR intervention, claiming this was the third consecutive match in which the technology was not utilised. “We scored a goal in the second half that was disallowed, and I do not understand why VAR was not used,” he said. “This is the third game in a row they have not used VAR and I do not understand why.”
Despite the setback, Grant praised his players for their spirited performance, particularly their defensive resilience in the first half against a technically gifted Moroccan side. Morocco, however, capitalised on the momentum after the disallowed goal, with Oussama Lamlaoui heading home to restore their lead before adding a third late on.
Grant emphasised that while results matter, Zambia’s CHAN campaign was also about evaluating local talent for the senior national team. “Our target for CHAN is to see which players can make the step up to the main team,” he said. “Most of our players play in the local league, so we were using this platform to see who can make the step up.”
With elimination confirmed, Zambia will now focus on their final group match against Kenya’s Harambee Stars at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday. For Kenya, a win would secure top spot in Group A and avoid a potential quarter-final clash with Tanzania’s Taifa Stars. For Zambia, it presents an opportunity to regroup, experiment with tactics, and continue building towards future competitions.
