Morocco’s U20 head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has declared his team’s place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a “logical” outcome following their 1–0 semi-final victory over hosts Egypt in Cairo on Thursday.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, Ouahbi praised the composure and discipline of his players, emphasising that their united approach and tactical maturity were instrumental in securing the win. He added that the team remains fully focused on capturing the continental title in Sunday’s final against South Africa.
“We remained calm and played as a unit,” said the Moroccan coach. “The boys delivered a performance they can be proud of. Our qualification for the final is logical given the way we’ve progressed, and now we are determined to win the title.”
The semi-final clash against Egypt was tightly contested, with both teams showing caution in the opening half. Ouahbi explained that after a controlled first period, Morocco adjusted their approach by pushing full-backs higher up the pitch to create numerical superiority and stretch the Egyptian defence.
The decisive goal arrived in the second half, silencing the home crowd and sending Morocco through to the final. The result sets up a highly anticipated showdown with South Africa, who edged Nigeria 1–0 in Ismailia, courtesy of a goal from Tylon Christopher Smith in the 66th minute.
Ouahbi believes the final will be an entertaining affair and is confident his squad has what it takes to rise to the occasion. “South Africa are a strong side, and we expect a high-level match that will meet the expectations of supporters. Our players have shown character, and we aim to finish the tournament in the best possible way.”
Morocco captain Houssam Essadak, who was named Man of the Match for his standout performance, acknowledged the difficulty of playing against Egypt on their home turf. “It wasn’t an easy game, especially with Egypt playing at home in front of their fans,” he said. “But we stayed focused and took our chance.”
Essadak also emphasised that his individual recognition was a reflection of the team’s collective effort. “This award belongs to the whole squad. Everyone gave their all, and now we want to bring the trophy back to Morocco. The final will be our chance to repeat what was achieved in 1997.”
Meanwhile, Egypt’s coach Oussama Nabih congratulated the Moroccan team, praising their tactical discipline and composure under pressure. “We’re disappointed not to reach the final, but Morocco played well and deserved their win.
I wish them good luck in the final,” Nabih said. He also commended his own players for their fighting spirit and acknowledged the emotional challenge of falling short at home.
All four teams that reached the semi-finals—Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria—have secured qualification for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October.
Sunday’s final in Cairo, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time, promises to be a gripping contest as Morocco look to cap a solid campaign with the U20 AFCON title.
