https://arab.news/y3zve
- The MENA country will play co-hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Friday
NAIROBI: Co-hosts Kenya held their nerve to beat Zambia 1-0 on Sunday and reach the African Nations Championship quarterfinals on their tournament debut.
Kenya finished top of Group A thanks to striker Ryan Ogam’s 75th-minute goal in Nairobi.
The home team already had one foot in the knock-out phase heading into the final round of group matches, knowing avoiding defeat would guarantee progress.
Morocco grabbed second place in the group and a last-eight berth courtesy of a 3-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in a winner-takes-all clash.
Berkane forward Oussama Lamlioui scored in the eighth minute to put Morocco, who were level on six points with their opponents before kick-off, into the lead.
The DRC responded through Jephte Kitambala when he fired home for his second goal of the tournament shortly before half-time.
Two-time champions Morocco retook the lead through a Mohamed Hrimat penalty with 20 minutes remaining, before Lamlioui put the game to bed in the 80th minute.
Kenya will face Madagascar in the last eight, while Morocco will play co-hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
Elsewhere, Japan winger Ritsu Doan scored twice on his debut as Eintracht Frankfurt thumped fifth-tier Engers 5-0 in the first round of the German Cup on Sunday.
Doan, who joined Frankfurt from Bundesliga rivals Freiburg in the summer, scored in each half.
The Japan international scored Frankfurt’s second in first-half stoppage time, collecting the ball on the run and scoring past the goalkeeper in one motion.
Doan got his second 54 minutes, cutting into the corner on his left foot to put Frankfurt 3-0 up.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya, Elye Wahi and Paxten Aaronson also got on the scoresheet for the five-time German Cup winners.
On Monday, five-time winners Borussia Dortmund will play at neighbors Essen.