Morocco snatched the U23 AFCON trophy in a tight final against Egypt, winning 2-1 after extra time. The Atlas Lions thus succeed Egypt (2019), Nigeria (2015) and Gabon (2011).
There was no time to dwell on the final of the U23 AFCON. Egypt had a clear chance from the outset (2nd minute), but the Moroccan goalkeeper saved it. Egypt got off to a better start and opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Mahmoud Saber curled an audacious shot from 25 metres out into the top corner of the net. A logical opening! The Pharaohs were doing well.
But the match then took a turn for the worse, with the Egyptian striker leaving his team-mates in the 16th minute following a serious foul on a Moroccan player on the edge of the area. Egypt then dropped back a notch, leaving the initiative to Morocco. There was very little space for the Atlas Cubs and very few chances in a match that had become closed. But in an unexpected turn of events, Morocco equalised in the 37th minute when Yanis Begraoui latched onto a pinpoint cross. It was the first chance conceded by the Egyptian wall.
Second half locked in by the Egyptians
The second half got off to a slow start, with the Moroccans' calculations inhibiting them.Egypt had their feet firmly on the ground, their heart in the right place, and rarely came out with more than 3 players. Morocco had possession without creating any danger. As far as the spectacle was concerned, only a few greyhounds from El Hannouss on the Moroccan side and Faycal on the Egyptian side occasionally livened up the match. The first real chance of the second half came in the 83rd minute. El Hanouss found Saibari at the Egyptian back, alone against the goalkeeper.But he failed to connect with the wonderful cross. The Egyptians responded a few minutes later (88th) with a shot from distance that flew just wide of the goal. In stoppage time, the match almost turned on its head. But the Egyptian goalkeeper (90th) pulled off a reflex save from a Moroccan rebound after Ezze's precise back-heeled cross.
Morocco unlock Egypt in extra time
In the first period, Morocco controlled the ball but were unable to break down the tournament's best defence, which continued to hold firm.The Pharaohs' defence did not concede a shot. They pushed everything away. Morocco finally scored from a set-piece (105th+3). Ezze cleverly set up Oussama Targhaline.The latter fired a shot into the back of the net, aided by a handball by the Egyptian keeper.The Pharaohs tried to fight back in the second half, but the players had little energy left. Morocco were in control until the final whistle and went on to claim the trophy.
