Late own goal sends Morocco to U-20 AFCON semifinals

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Morocco needed an extra time goal to end the run of debutants Sierra Leone Monday's 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal encounter. Sierra Leone fought hard despite being reduced to ten players in extra time, but an own goal from Amara Keita sent Morocco to the semifinals and booked their place in the next edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

It was a closely contested encounter between the Young Atlas Lions and the Shooting Stars, with both sides battling for control in midfield. Saad El Haddad came closest to opening the scoring just four minutes in but the Morocco player's strike sailed over the bar.

The debutants then tested the Moroccan defense through strikers Samuel Gandi and Osman Kamara, with goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch rising to the occasion to repel their efforts. The best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute when Houssam Essadak’s spectacular long-range strike was brilliantly saved by Mamadou Jalloh.

Following the resumption, Sierra Leone had the second half's best scoring chances, both coming from range. Nevertheless, Jalloh made an important intervention to deny Adam El-Mokhtari fifteen minutes before time. The match took a twist when substitute Samba Juma Bah was red-carded for a handball just before the end of regulation.

Sierra Leone opted for a defensive approach while Morocco piled on the pressure. Illias Boumassaoudi’s goal-bound cross was turned in by the helpless Keita in the 115th minute as Morocco clinched the victory in extra time.

Morocco will now await their next opponent, the winner of the other ongoing quarterfinal match between Ghana and hosts Egypt. The semifinal clash will take place on May 15 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.