Morocco’s goalkeeper Taha Benrhozil was brilliant, saving three of eight penalties as they defeated Mali 6-5 to make their first-ever TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final at the Stade Chahid Hamlaoui on Sunday.

As a result, they will face West African giant Senegal in the final of this year’s U17 AFCON at the Stade de Nelson Mandela on Friday.

Morocco and Mali match was forced into penalties after a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time, and Benrhozil showed just why he is one of the top keepers in the tournament with three intelligent saves.

On the other hand, Senegal reached their first U17 final after surviving a penalty shoot-out to down Burkina Faso 5-4 at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba on Sunday.

The Atlas Cubs coach, Said Chiba, has said they were patient and organised after the victory. 

“We knew that we were going into a difficult game, and we needed to manage it well and ensure Mali, which is a very high-level team, does not find its rhythm and channels to attack. We played compact as to how we had planned,” the coach noted.

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At the Fifa U17 World Cup this year, Africa will be represented by these four nations Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Morocco – Three impressive sides from West Africa and one from North Africa. 

Burkina Faso and Mali joined Senegal and Morocco in the Semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.

Burkina Faso defeated Nigeria 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers as two-time champions Mali thrashed Congo 3-0 in the quarter-finals in Annaba on Thursday.

Both nations progressed to the tournament to the semi-finals, as well as picking up their U17 Fifa World Cup tickets as two of the four African countries to book their places.

Aboubacar Camara’s brace was enough for the Junior Stallions. It was sweet revenge for Burkina, who lost to Nigeria via the same score-line in the final of the WAFU Zone qualifiers.

Ange Tia, Mamadou Doumbia and Mohamoud Barry got the three goals for the Malian Eagles to hand them a place in the last four and a ticket to the global showpiece.

Semi-Finals – 14 May 2023

• QF1 winner vs QF4 winner – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 17h000 local time
• QF2 winner vs QF3 winner – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 20h00 local time

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Senegal and Morocco have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held from 10 November to 2 December 2023 after reaching the CAF U17 Afcon semi-finals on Wednesday.

West African giant Senegal proved too strong for their counterpart as they walloped South Africa 5-0 in the quarter-final of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Wednesday evening. 

North African giant Morocco triumphed over their Algerian counterpart 3-0 to qualify for the semi-finals. As a result, book their place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Wednesday in Constantine, Algeria. 

Two own goals in the first half owned by each of South Africa’s central defenders followed up by Mamadou Sadio’s goal, and skipper Amara Diouf’s brace was more than enough as the Teranga Cubs continued with their impressive performance in the competition. 

And for the first time, Senegal has progressed beyond the group stages of the U17 AFCON.

They have also qualified for the World Cup for the second time in their history, having done so in 2019. 

Morocco, on the other hand, scored their opener 28 minutes into the game through young striker Zakaria Ouazane. He further cemented their win in the 57th minute with a second goal before Adam Chakir’s third in the 86 minutes.

Today’s Quarter-final matches 

May 11.

• Mali vs Congo – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 17h00 local time
• Nigeria vs Burkina Faso – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, 20h00 local time

Semi-Finals – 14 May 2023

• QF1 winner vs QF4 winner – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 17h000 local time
• QF2 winner vs QF3 winner – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 20h00 local time

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Burkina Faso scored two goals in two minutes to eliminate holders Cameroon with a 2-1 victory in their Group C U17 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in Annaba.

The victory in Annaba on Sunday evening meant the Burkinabe came second in the group with three points ahead of Cameroon, who finished bottom after back-to-back defeats to Mali and Burkina Faso.

All hopes of squeezing in as one of the best two third-placed teams also were dashed in Group B after South Africa progressed by scoring more goals, as they both finished with a -3 goal difference.

Burkina Faso will now face Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

South Africa to face Senegal in the first of the four quarter-final fixtures at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, where Senegal eased past Group A with a 100 per cent record, will tackle South Africa, who was one of the best two third-placed teams.

How they face off in the quarter-final starting on Wednesday.

May 10.

• Senegal vs South Africa – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, 17h00 local time
• Morocco vs Algeria – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 20h00 local time

May 11.

• Mali vs Congo – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 17h00 local time
• Nigeria vs Burkina Faso – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, 20h00 local time

Semi-Finals – 14 May 2023

• QF1 winner vs QF4 winner – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 17h000 local time
• QF2 winner vs QF3 winner – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 20h00 local time

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Hosts Morocco will face a stiff battle in the race to progress from Group A of the TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations after being drawn with Ghana, Guinea and Congo.

The draw was attended by African legends Patrick Mboma and Aziz Bouderbala and conducted at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday.

The tournament, which is exclusively for players under age 23, will take place from June 24 to July 8, 2023, in the cities of Rabat and Tangier.

Morocco will face Ghana on Saturday, 24 June 2023, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat and kick-off at 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT).

In Group A, host Morocco alone side Ghana, Congo and Guinea. Group B features holders Egypt, Mali, Gabon and Niger in what promises to be a high-flying show.

Group A matches will be held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, while Group B matches will take place at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier.

The first three nations will get their ticket for the Summer Olympics in 2024.

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Morocco have qualified for this year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as Abdel Hamid Maali’s first-half deflected strike proved pivotal on Wednesday. The North Africans carried the day with a 1-0 win over Nigeria at the Mohamed Hamloui Stadium in Constantine.

Maali’s goal came as early as 75 seconds on the clock as they held on to grab a massive win to move to six points on top of Group B.

Nigeria did everything but failed to capitalise on their chances – The West African will face a crucial final group match tie against South Africa.

Elsewhere, young Bafana Bafana beat their COSAFA rivals 3-2 in Constantine on Wednesday to put their TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign back on track.

The young Bafana Bafana head coach Duncan Crowie was pleased with his side scoring early goals.

“We scored an early goal which really helped us settle. We also created more, unlike the Morocco game, and I am happy for the goals. The players had courage, and we had good mental strength to perform like that,” said the tactician.

On Saturday, Duncan’s side will battle for a place in the quarter-finals when they face Nigeria U17.

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