RABAT — Rogerio Micale, the head coach of Egypt’s U-23 team, expressed his admiration for his players’ performance despite their loss to Morocco in the final of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.
In a gripping final held at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, hosts Morocco emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the 10-man Egyptian team.
During the post-match press conference, Micale acknowledged that his team had dominated the game until a red card was issued to one of his players. “I want to thank the players for their hard work,” Micale added.
He further explained that even after the red card, his team continued to press forward and create scoring opportunities.
“I congratulate the Egyptian team for their performance despite the defeat,” added Micale, who had previously won an Olympic Games gold medal with the Brazil team.
Micale also expressed gratitude towards the Moroccan fans for creating a fantastic atmosphere at the stadium.
“Although I am disappointed and saddened because we had planned a winning strategy, unfortunately, the red card disrupted our plans,” explained Micale.
However, he emphasized that his young players have learned valuable lessons from this tournament and will prepare diligently to perform even better at the Paris Olympic Games next year.
Egypt captain named U-23 AFCON Best Player
Egypt U-23 captain Ibrahim Adel has been named the Best Player of the U-23 AFCON, Morocco 2023 following the final match in Rabat.
The skipper of the Baby Pharaohs was among several players who won personal awards after the fourth edition of the U-23 AFCON 2023, came to a close.
This comes after hosts Morocco crowned champions on home soil after defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat.
Several players showcased outstanding performances, and some were recognized by the Technical Study Group of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Among them was Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, the top scorer of the U-23 AFCON 2023. With three goals, the Moroccan striker claimed the Umbro Golden Boot award for the competition.
The FC Barcelona winger demonstrated his goal-scoring efficiency throughout the tournament. It is worth noting that since 2015, no one has surpassed the Nigerian Oghenekaro Etebo’s record of five goals.
Ibrahim Adel, the captain of the young Pharaohs, was named the tournament’s best player. The silver medal winner was recognized for his exceptional performances, which guided Egypt to the final.
Adel’s midfield dominance and playmaking skills were instrumental in his team’s success.
Hamza Alaa, who remained unbeatable in goal until the final where he conceded two goals, received the award for the best goalkeeper.
The Al-Ahly shot-stopper showcased agility, authority, and excellent technical control of the ball, qualities that earned him this prestigious accolade.
Finishing fourth in this edition of the U-23 CAF Cup, Guinea was honoured with the Fair Play Award for their sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
Morocco wins maiden U-23 AFCON
Morocco made history as they clinched their first U-23 AFCON title with a thrilling 2-1 win against ten-man Egypt, requiring extra time to settle the match.
Egypt took an early lead when Mahmoud Saber unleashed a brilliant curler into the top corner, giving his team an advantage after just nine minutes of play.
However, Saber’s night quickly turned sour as he received a red card eight minutes later for a reckless challenge on Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Egypt managed to hold their ground for the remaining minutes of regular time. However, their defence faltered in the 37th minute, allowing Yanis Begraoui to score the equalizer for the host nation.
The first and second halves concluded without any additional goals, leading the match into extra time. It was during the first half of extra time that Morocco seized the lead, putting Egypt behind for the first time in the competition.
Substitute Oussamna Targhalline capitalized on a free kick from Ezzalzouli, delivering a powerful strike that eluded the Egyptian goalkeeper, making it 2-1 in favor of Morocco.
Efforts from Egypt to secure a late equalizer proved fruitless, as Morocco held on to claim victory and secure their first U-23 AFCON trophy.
Both Morocco and Egypt has earned their spots in next year’s Olympic Games, set to take place in Paris, alongside Mali, who secured their qualification after defeating Guinea in the third-place playoff game.
Guinea can still secure a place as the fourth African side at the Olympic Games in Paris but they have to win a playoff against a yet-to-be-decided Asian opponent.
The Guinea U-23 team’s head coach, Morlaye Cisse, expressed his belief that his team was struck by misfortune in their play-off match against Mali.
In a match played at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Mali emerged victorious, defeating Guinea 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.
“We were simply unlucky,” stated a disappointed Cisse after the match. Despite the result, the coach expressed pride in his players for displaying discipline and giving their utmost effort.
“We entered this tournament as underdogs, and no one expected us to reach this stage. However, we finished fourth and now have an opportunity to participate in a play-off and qualify,” explained Cisse.
Cisse mentioned that the team will return to the drawing board, strengthen their squad, and address any mistakes before the upcoming play-off.
“If given the chance to redo this competition, I would field the same players and approach the game in the same manner because I believe we performed well, but we were simply unlucky,” said Cisse.
The coach urged the nation to continue supporting these young players, emphasizing that they are defending their country’s honor.
He concluded, “Hope is not lost, and we will work tirelessly for this final opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.”
While the defeat may have been a setback, the Guinea U23 team remains determined to overcome the challenges and secure their place on the global stage.
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