U23 AFCON: Egypt, Morocco reach final, secure Olympic Games ticket
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.
Guinea now faced the challenge of creating a remarkable comeback. It’s worth noting that since Brazilian coach Micale took charge of the team, Egypt has conceded only one goal, which occurred in a friendly match against Ghana on June 15th.
Unfazed, the Syli National continued their relentless offensive assaults. However, neither Algassime Bah’s free-kick, who was included in the starting line-up after a brief trip to Greece to extend his work visa, nor Aguibou Camara’s charge found the back of the net.
South African referee Tom Abongile blew the whistle for half-time, a period clearly dominated by Guinea in terms of possession. This indicated that Egypt’s place in the final and their journey to Paris was not entirely secure.
As the teams returned to the field, Guinea launched their attacks. Fodé Camara attempted a powerful strike from 30 meters, which was saved by Hamza Alaa in the 57th minute. However, the West Africans made several mistakes in the 70th minute.
Egypt was awarded a free-kick, and Hossam Abdelmaguid’s header breached the goal guarded by Mory Keita. Egypt believed they had secured a decisive lead, but an offside position nullified the goal.
Guinea’s fate hung in the balance as the North Africans began to waste time. Salifou Soumah, who entered the game in the second half, unleashed a magnificent strike but once again faced the firm hand of Egyptian goalkeeper Hamza Alaa in the 88th minute.
The seven minutes of additional time seemed endless for the Egyptians. Unfortunately for Guinea, the score remained unchanged.
Egypt booked their place in the final and also a place at the Olympic Games to be played in Paris next year.
Morocco’s qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 after a thrilling encounter against Mali in the CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.
In a match filled with excitement and intensity at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco emerged victorious in a penalty shootout, prevailing 4-3 after the teams had fought to a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Zakaria El Quahdi sent the Moroccan fans into a frenzy when he scored the opening goal after just 14 minutes, igniting the home crowd’s enthusiasm.
Despite the host’s initial dominance, Mali, led by the inspirational Mamady Diambou, displayed resilience and grew in confidence throughout the match.
Mali intensified their attacks in the second half, eventually equalizing through Diambou in the 66th minute. With no resolution at the end of regulation time, the referee extended the game by an additional 30 minutes.
In the 108th minute, Morocco regained the lead through Amine El Quazzani’s strike. However, Mali refused to concede defeat and equalized once again in the 116th minute when Issoufi Maiga headed in from close range, leveling the score at 2-2.
The match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Morocco maintained their composure and successfully converted all four of their penalties, while Mali faltered with misses from captain Boubacar Traore and Ahmed Diomande.
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the Moroccan team and their passionate supporters, marking a significant milestone in their Olympic journey.
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.
Morocco’s qualification for the Paris Olympics stands as a testament to their tenacity and determination, and they now aim to seize the opportunity to shine on the global stage of Olympic competition but will face Egypt for the bragging rights as the champions of Africa.
