Egypt and Morocco have emerged as the standout teams, securing their places in the final of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and also securing spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Pharaohs secured a narrow victory over Guinea, while the Atlas Lions triumphed over the Eagles of Mali in a thrilling penalty shootout.
As a result, an enticing final between the North African rivals is now set. As the competition draws to a close.
In the final, scheduled to take place on Saturday in Rabat, Morocco will face defending champions Egypt, while Guinea and Mali will contend for the third Paris Olympic slot in the play-off on Friday in Tangier.
Egyptians emerged triumphant in the first semi-final of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Guinea 1-0 on Tuesday to reach the final.
The Young Pharaohs kept alive their hopes of retaining the title and also secured their place in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris thanks to the victory in Tangiers.
Talented midfielder Mohamed Shehata Mahmoud’s fantastic first-half strike was what separated the two sides in the tension-filled encounter in the Moroccan city.
The first opportunity came from Guinea’s side as Ousmane Camara seized the ball following an error by Mohamed Tarek. However, Camara’s shot was deflected by Egyptian goalkeeper Hamza Alaa.
While Guinea dominated the game, the young Pharaohs’ captain, Ibrahim Adel, intercepted the ball and found Mohamed Shehata Mahmoud at the edge of the box. Mahmoud unleashed a powerful strike, securing a 1-0 lead for Egypt.
Morocco have undeniably been the most efficient team throughout the U-23 tournament, showcasing their clinical prowess.
However, their hopes of emulating Egypt’s achievement of winning the competition on home soil in 2019 were nearly shattered if not for the passionate support of the home crowd.
In their semi-final clash against Mali, Mali managed to level the score on two occasions, pushing the game into a penalty shootout, per Bein Sports.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, luck was not on their side as Morocco emerged victorious, primarily due to the fervent backing of their fans during the crucial shootout moments.
Mali’s journey in the U-23 AFCON has been nothing short of dramatic. After a challenging first-leg defeat of 3-1 in the qualifiers, they showcased their resilience by stunning Senegal and securing a place in the tournament.
The Young Eagles came agonizingly close to reaching the final, displaying an attractive style of football that has captivated fans.
Following their narrow 1-0 defeat in the semi-finals against reigning champions Egypt, the Guineans now find themselves confronted with the task of winning the upcoming play-off match on Friday in order to secure their place in the Paris Olympics.
According to CAFOnline, Morlaye Cisse, the head coach of Guinea’s U23 team, has displayed an even stronger determination to secure a spot in Paris.
Although their campaign began on a challenging note with a close loss to Morocco, the Syli National managed to regain momentum with a victory and a draw, earning them a spot in the semi-finals, before they encountered a stumbling block in the last four stage.
