Morocco come from behind to beat Egypt and be crowned African U-23 champions

The Moulay Abdallah stadium in Rabat was waiting for the big event in Moroccan football this summer. The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations was looking for a great champion to show the state of African football for the international future.

Morocco is in charge and the U-23 team not only certified its qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but also lifted a title that will highlight a number of players who will be able to continue to grow in Europe.

The match did not start well for the Atlas Lions. A goal from Saber put the Pharaohs ahead in what was already becoming a tightly contested match, with no ball being given away.

Saber himself committed a foul on Abde that the referee had to go to the VAR for a review. There was no doubt that the studs had impacted above the ankle and he did not hesitate to send off the Egyptian striker who his team-mates tried to excuse without success.

Egypt played with 10 men from the 20th minute of the match and it showed as the minutes ticked by. Although they continued to contest every ball and the referee showed eight yellow cards, Morocco's dominance was evident.

In the 37th minute, Begraoui scored from a great cross by El Khannouss to make it 1-1 at half-time, a psychological goal that brought the stadium to its feet.

In the second half, Egypt made two changes that managed to stop Morocco's onslaught, although they lacked the finishing touch to avoid extra time. Egypt even had a chance to score from a direct free-kick that flew inches over the crossbar.

Morocco's six substitutions were matched by Egypt's four as extra time took on a frenetic pace in both areas. In first-half stoppage time, a free-kick on the edge of the box was settled by a set piece in which Abde laid the ball off to Targhalline for the Le Havre man to score the goal that is worth an Africa Cup of Nations.

Morocco's potential in this championship testifies to the great work of Fouzi Lekjaa as president of the federation to work with the youth. King Mohamed VI congratulated the little Atlas lions, who are paving the way for Morocco to host the 2030 World Cup with this team as the basis for the future of football in the country.