Morocco grind out semifinal victory over Egypt to reach U-20 AFCON final

Egyptian Football Association/Facebook

Morocco eliminated 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Egypt on Thursday with a 1-0 semifinal victory at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

Jones El-Abdellaoui's 78th minute finish was enough to send the Atlas Lion Cubs through to Sunday's final where they will face South Africa in a rematch of the 1997 African Youth Championship final. Ismael Aouad's cross from the right wing bounced found El-Abdellaoui and the Celta Vigo player fired into the roof of the net.

It was a deserved result for the Moroccan team who showed more ambition against Egypt, who struggled for consistency throughout the competition. Not until the end when the hosts needed a goal did they finally begin to push numbers forward.

However it was a controlled victory for Morocco who will look to match the 1997 team which captured the nation's only under-20 African title. They will face South Africa in the final on Sunday (18:00 GMT) at the Cairo International Stadium while Egypt face Nigeria at the 30 June Stadium for the third place match earlier on Sunday (15:00 GMT).