The Morocco U-23 national team have lifted the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations for the very first time after defeating Egypt 2-1 after extra time in Saturday’s final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.
Both North African giants had booked their place in the 2024 Olympic Games after reaching the semi-finals where they defeated Mali and Guinea respectively.
The Pharaohs were gunning to defend their title they won on home soil in 2019 and it looked like it was going that way when Mahmoud Saber opened proceedings in Rabat in the 10th minute of play. The Pyramids FC defender however received an early bath eight minutes later, leaving Egypt with 10 men.
Their disadvantage became Morocco’s advantage as Yanis Begraoui equalised for the Atlas Lions with eight minutes left in the first half.
The second half saw very little action as both sides were conservative in their approach. The Rabat crowd were finally sent into raptures when Oussama Targhalline scored the winner in added time of the first half of extra time.
MOROCCO ARE OUR #TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/cYPWrcwd9C
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 ???? (@CAF_Online) July 8, 2023
Egypt’s Ibrahim Abdel was awarded as the Player of the Tournament while his campatriot Hamza Alaa was awarded as the Best Goalkeeper.
Morocco’s Abdessamad Ezzalzouli won the top scorer award with three goals and Guinea were awarded as Fair Play team of the tournament.
