Get ready for an electrifying clash as two West African powerhouses, Mali and Guinea, battle it out for the coveted third-place prize at the U-23 AFCON football championship in Morocco.
The match, set to take place at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, promises high stakes and fierce competition as both teams vie not only for glory but also for the precious ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
It's matchday! ⚽️
🇲🇱 Mali 🆚 Guinea 🇬🇳
⏰ 18:00 (GMT +1)
🏟️ Grand Stade of TangierWho takes home the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU23 bronze medal? 🥉 pic.twitter.com/2Ez0axjIkN
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) July 7, 2023
In the semi-final showdowns, host nation Morocco and Egypt secured their spots for the Olympics after thrilling victories against their West African counterparts.
Egypt emerged triumphant with a 1-0 win over Guinea in an intense match at Ibn Batouta Stadium.
Meanwhile, Morocco faced a tough challenge from a determined Mali team, with the game ending in a nail-biting 2-2 draw.
The hosts ultimately clinched a 4-3 victory on penalties, securing their spot in the final against Egypt.
The semi-final matches showcased exceptional talent and heart-stopping moments.
Egypt’s Mohamed Shehata struck early in the 8th minute, securing the only goal of the match with an assist from Ahmed Atef.
Yellow cards were shown to Naby Oulare and Ousmane Camare of Guinea, as well as Ahmed Atef and Ibrahim Adel of Egypt, adding to the intensity of the game.
In the second semi-final clash, Morocco’s Zakaria El Ouahdi scored in the 13th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Mali’s Mamady Diambou leveled the scores in the 76th minute, forcing the match into extra time.
Both teams fought relentlessly, and Amine El Ouazzani of Morocco and Issouf Maiga of Mali added their names to the scoresheet.
With the full-time result still at 2-2, the game headed into a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
The shootout was filled with tension and drama. Mali’s Boubacar Traore and Hamed Diamante missed their penalties, while Mamady Diambou, Hamidou, and Mohamadou Lamine Bah converted for Mali.
For the hosts, Ousmane Tanghalline, Amine El Ouazzani, and Younes Taha calmly found the net.
The highest goal scorer of the tournament, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, secured Morocco’s final ticket with a confident penalty, resulting in a thrilling 4-3 victory on penalties.
The final aggregate score stood at 6-5 in favor of Morocco.
Now, all eyes are on the ultimate showdown between Morocco and Egypt in the North African derby final.
Taking place at the majestic Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, this clash of giants will determine the winner of the U-23 AFCON football tournament.
The match is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 9:00 pm Nigerian time.
While Morocco and Egypt celebrate their Olympic qualifications, the battle for the fourth representative from the African continent in the Paris 2024 Olympics will be decided in a playoff between the U-23 AFCON third-place team and the representative of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) later this year.
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