WHEN the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 reaches its decisive stage, the spotlight will inevitably fall on Morocco’s Oussama Lamlioui.

The RS Berkane forward has been the beating heart of the Atlas Lions’ campaign, turning crucial moments into triumphs and proving himself not just as a scorer, but as a leader with the composure to deliver when it matters most.

For Morocco to make another final, Lamlioui will once again have to be the difference.

His goals and presence have already changed the trajectory of their tournament—now his consistency could define whether the Atlas Lions stand on the podium once more.

Rising when Morocco needed him most

The Atlas Lions began their CHAN journey with disappointment, slipping to a 1-0 defeat against hosts Kenya in Nairobi.

The result left them facing an uphill battle to stay alive in the group. But from adversity came opportunity.

Lamlioui stepped forward against the Democratic Republic of Congo in what was effectively a knockout game.

He scored twice in a commanding 3-1 victory, restoring belief in the squad and ensuring Morocco’s progression. 

His performance not only earned him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award but also marked him as the team’s talisman.

“For sure it was a difficult game out there today,” Lamlioui said afterwards.

“But we had one ambition as a team to go out, win and secure a place in the quarter-finals.

"I am delighted to be named man of the match but this was a collective team effort. From the word go we played as a team and we got the result.”

Numbers that speak of influence

Four games, 360 minutes, four goals, and one assist—Lamlioui’s statistics show a forward at the peak of his efficiency as the top scorer of the competition so far.

He has produced eight shots on target, made five key passes, and been involved in virtually every major attacking move Morocco has created.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

His intelligent movement stretches defences, his aerial strength brings a different dimension, and his relentless pressing mirrors Morocco’s tactical identity. 

Coach Tarik Sektioui has not hidden his admiration:

“Oussama is a player who knows how to read the game and handle decisive moments. That’s what makes him special,” he said.

Experience shaping composure

At 25, Lamlioui is already seasoned by continental football with RS Berkane, having won African titles at club level.

That winning culture is evident in his calmness on the ball and his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.

Against Tanzania in the quarter-finals, when the game hung in the balance, he was again the match-winner—pouncing on a clever assist by Youssef Belammari to score the only goal.

It was his third strike of the tournament and proof that Morocco’s road to the semi-finals has Lamlioui’s fingerprints all over it.

Focused on the bigger picture

Despite his individual brilliance, Lamlioui has been careful to highlight Morocco’s collective spirit as their greatest weapon.

“Our ambition is to go match by match and find our way to the final,” he explained.

 “This is not about individuals. It is about Morocco playing as one.”

Those words reflect the balance between personal heroics and team unity that has defined Morocco’s campaign so far.

With the semi-final looming against defending champions Senegal, it is exactly that blend of confidence and humility that his teammates will draw from.

The key to Morocco’s chances

If Morocco are to lift the CHAN trophy for the third time in their history, much will depend on whether Lamlioui can continue his remarkable run of form.

His sharpness in front of goal has already been decisive; his leadership on the pitch has made the Atlas Lions a more dangerous unit.

For the opposition, stopping Lamlioui has become a tactical priority.

For Morocco, keeping him supplied with service may prove the difference between a heroic semi-final run and another date with history in the final.

Legacy in the making

Lamlioui’s rise at CHAN 2024 has been a story of maturity, resilience, and opportunity seized.

From lifting his team out of group stage jeopardy to guiding them through the knockouts, he has become the symbol of Morocco’s campaign.

And with the semi-finals set, one truth is already clear: if Morocco go all the way, much of the credit will rest with Oussama Lamlioui—the forward whose boots carry the weight of a nation’s dreams. CAFOnline.com