U23 AFCON: The 4 Takeaways As Morocco, Egypt Reach Final While Guinea and Mali Contend for 3rd Spot

Egypt and Morocco have emerged as the standout teams, securing their places in the final of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and also securing spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Pharaohs secured a narrow victory over Guinea, while the Atlas Lions triumphed over the Eagles of Mali in a thrilling penalty shootout.

As a result, an enticing final between the North African rivals is now set. As the competition draws to a close, Sports Brief examines the four key takeaways from the semi-final clashes.

Egypt still impermeable

Egypt sealed their spot in the final and secured a place at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next year, thanks to an impressive first-half strike by Mohamed Shehata Mahmoud, KingFut reports.

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As the defending champions of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, the young Pharaohs find themselves on the verge of successfully defending the trophy they claimed four years ago, following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Guinea.

Notably, Egypt stands as the sole team in the ongoing tournament yet to concede a goal. Throughout the competition, they have demonstrated their defensive prowess by keeping their opponents at bay, having only failed to score against Niger.

However, they swiftly made amends in subsequent matches, netting four goals while effectively preventing their adversaries from finding the back of the net.

Home support spurs on Morocco

Morocco have undeniably been the most efficient team throughout the U-23 tournament, showcasing their clinical prowess.

However, their hopes of emulating Egypt's achievement of winning the competition on home soil in 2019 were nearly shattered if not for the passionate support of the home crowd.

In their semi-final clash against Mali, Mali managed to level the score on two occasions, pushing the game into a penalty shootout, per Bein Sports.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, luck was not on their side as Morocco emerged victorious, primarily due to the fervent backing of their fans during the crucial shootout moments.

The atmosphere at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat was electric, with the packed crowd acting as the 12th man, serving as a remarkable testament to their resilience and unwavering determination.

Mali favourite to get 3rd spot

Mali's journey in the U-23 AFCON has been nothing short of dramatic. After a challenging first-leg defeat of 3-1 in the qualifiers, they showcased their resilience by stunning Senegal and securing a place in the tournament.

The Young Eagles came agonizingly close to reaching the final, displaying an attractive style of football that has captivated fans.

Throughout the competition, they have been one of the most thrilling teams, only failing to score in a single match out of the four played so far.

While they won't have the opportunity to vie for the championship, they will face their sub-region rivals, Guinea, in the third-place playoff. This crucial match, taking place on Friday in Tangier, will determine the recipient of the third Paris Olympics slot, adding further significance to their efforts.

Guinea still determined

Following their narrow 1-0 defeat in the semi-finals against reigning champions Egypt, the Guineans now find themselves confronted with the task of winning the upcoming play-off match on Friday in order to secure their place in the Paris Olympics.

According to CAFOnline, Morlaye Cisse, the head coach of Guinea's U23 team, has displayed an even stronger determination to secure a spot in Paris.

Although their campaign began on a challenging note with a close loss to Morocco, the Syli National managed to regain momentum with a victory and a draw, earning them a spot in the semi-finals, before they encountered a stumbling block in the last four stage.