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Morocco seeking home glory in U-17 AFCON final against Mali
Morocco Training ©Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix
Friday Apr 18, 2025. 11:00
Morocco will be gunning to win the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil when they go up against Mali in the final to be played at the El Bachir Stadium on Saturday, 19 April.
Kick-off is at 16h00 CAT.
The Lion Cubs advanced to the final after defeating Ivory Coast 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw. As for Mali, they booked their spot by defeating Burkina Faso 2-0.
Morocco boasts the strongest defence on their way to the final, having allowed only one goal and recorded four clean sheets. In contrast, Mali has conceded six goals and managed just two clean sheets.
This marks the fourth time a North African team has reached the final, with Morocco being the first from the region to appear in multiple finals. Previously, Algeria reached the final in 2009, followed by Egypt in 1997, and Morocco themselves in 2023.
If Morocco secures victory, they will join Egypt as the only North African teams to win the title, with Egypt having achieved this in 1997.
Morocco U-17 head coach Nabil Baha pointed out that while the Lion Cubs’ results may lead fans to believe the hosts have had an easy path, he emphasised the difficulty of the competition.
“It hasn’t been easy to get this far, even though the results we have had so far have been with fairly large scorelines. But it’s a team effort; it’s the result of a year’s worth of preparation,” Baha said.
The third place play-off will see Ivory Coast lock horns with Burkina Faso at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday evening.
Côte d’Ivoire is competing in the third-place play-off match for the third time, having previously participated in 2005 and 2011.
Burkina Faso is also making their third appearance in the play-off for third place, having taken part in this match in 2009 and 2023.
U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
All times CAT
Bronze medal match, Friday 18 April
21:00: Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso
Final, Saturday 19 April
16:00: Morocco v Mali
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