Morocco U-17 coach Tiago Pereira rues ‘unfair’ Senegal defeat after AFCON semi-final exit

Morocco U-17 head coach Tiago Lima Pereira expressed frustration and disappointment after his side’s elimination from the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations semi-finals following Thursday’s defeat to Senegal, insisting the young Atlas Lions deserved a better outcome based on their performance.

Speaking after the match, the Portuguese tactician maintained that Morocco controlled large portions of the contest and successfully imposed their playing style despite facing one of the tournament’s most physically dominant teams.

According to Pereira, Morocco managed the game effectively in midfield while also creating movement and balance through both flanks. He explained that the technical staff had prepared extensively for Senegal’s strengths, particularly their pace on transitions and their ability to punish opponents on the counter-attack.

The Moroccan coach revealed that his players executed the tactical plan well and succeeded in limiting Senegal’s attacking threat for much of the encounter. However, he admitted that the final result left the squad feeling deeply frustrated.

Pereira described the defeat as “unfair,” stressing that Morocco’s overall display deserved a different ending.

“We feel a great deal of injustice today considering the performance we delivered,” the coach said after the match.

The Portuguese manager emphasized that his team entered the semi-final determined to dominate possession and play attacking football. He added that one of his core objectives as coach is to help the players express themselves confidently on the pitch while maintaining control of matches.

Despite the painful defeat, Pereira praised his young squad for their discipline, courage, and tactical execution against a physically strong Senegalese side.

He acknowledged, however, that football can sometimes punish teams even when they produce strong performances, noting that Morocco failed to capitalize on key moments that could have changed the outcome of the game.

Looking ahead, Pereira called on his players to quickly recover mentally as Morocco prepares for the third-place playoff against Egypt. The coach stressed the importance of lifting the squad’s morale and finishing the tournament strongly.

He also showed respect to Senegal following the semi-final clash, congratulating the West African nation on securing qualification to the final.

Morocco’s exit marked a disappointing end to their hopes of reaching the continental final after an impressive tournament campaign that had raised expectations among supporters. Nevertheless, Pereira believes the experience gained by the young players will prove valuable for their future development on the international stage.