In a historic moment on Saturday night, Morocco emerged triumphant, securing their first-ever junior Africa Cup of Nations (U-23 AFCON) title with an exhilarating 2-1 victory over a 10-man Egypt in extra time. The intense match unfolded at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Morocco’s attacking lineup for the U-23 AFCON final featured Yanis Begraoui, supported by Ismael Saibari and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli on the flanks. Egypt, aiming to defend their title, relied on Osama Faisal as their lead striker, with Ibrahim Adel and Ahmed Atef on the wings.
Egypt seized an early advantage when midfielder Mahmoud Saber unleashed a spectacular curling shot into the top corner, finding the back of the net just nine minutes into the game. However, Saber’s fortune quickly changed as he received a red card only eight minutes later for a reckless challenge on Moroccan winger Ezzalzouli.
Despite being a player down, Egypt held their ground until the 37th minute when Morocco leveled the score. Exploiting a defensive lapse from the Egyptian team, striker Yanis Begraoui found the net, breathing new life into the hosts. The regulation time of the match concluded with no further goals, pushing the game into extra time.
During the first half of the extra time of the U-23 AFCON match, Morocco took the lead for the first time in the tournament, leaving Egypt behind. Substitute Oussamna Targhalline capitalized on a free kick from Ezzalzouli, unleashing a powerful strike that eluded the Egyptian goalkeeper, resulting in a 2-1 scoreline.
Egypt fought desperately for a late equalizer to rekindle their hopes, but their efforts proved futile as Morocco held on to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory. It was an enthralling match, and the victory has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on Moroccan football. With this achievement, Morocco has etched its name in the history of U-23 AFCON by securing their maiden Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
Morocco’s remarkable journey in the U-23 AFCON tournament remained unblemished as they maintained an unbeaten record en route to claiming the prestigious title.
Both Morocco and Egypt have earned their spots in next year’s Olympic Games to be held in Paris. They will be joined by Mali, who secured their qualification by defeating Guinea in the third-place playoff on Saturday. While Guinea still has an opportunity to secure the fourth African spot in the Olympic Games, they must prevail in a playoff against an as-yet-undecided Asian opponent.
