Photo Credit: Union Nord-Africaine De Football
The curtain has fallen on the third round of the North Africa Zone qualifiers for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, delivering electrifying results that have kept the competition wide open and poised for a dramatic finale.
The tournament, hosted at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in the city of Ismailia, Egypt, carries immense significance. It serves as the gateway to the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which itself is a stepping stone to the U-20 FIFA World Cup—a dream stage for the continent's brightest young talents. The top two finishers will progress to the U-20 AFCON finals next year.
In today's action-packed encounters, Egypt, the host nation, secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Libya in a thrilling contest, while Algeria and Morocco shared the spoils in a tense 1-1 draw.
Egypt vs. Libya: A Dramatic Home Triumph
Egypt’s national team delivered when it mattered most, edging out Libya in a nail-biting clash. The young Pharaohs opened the scoring in the 76th minute when Ahmed Qabaqa calmly converted a penalty. However, Libya responded just two minutes later, with Abdelaziz Al-Mansouri capitalizing on a defensive mishap to level the score.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Abdullah Bostanji emerged as the hero, slotting home the decisive goal to secure a vital victory for Egypt. The match also saw Libya reduced to ten men following the dismissal of defender Abdelmohaimen Aboud in the 68th minute, further tilting the balance in Egypt's favor.
Algeria vs. Morocco: A Battle of Equals
In the second game, Algeria and Morocco played out an intense 1-1 draw. Mohamed Zghadi put Algeria ahead with a stunning strike in the 14th minute, but Morocco’s Yassir Al-Zubairi ensured a share of the points with a composed finish in the 86th minute.
Group Standings and the Road Ahead
These results have shaken up the group standings. Morocco remains atop the table with seven points, while Egypt climbs to second with four. Tunisia follows in third with three points, Algeria in fourth with two, and Libya at the bottom with one point.
GP | Points | |
| 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 2 | 1 |
The race for qualification continues on November 23, with Algeria set to face Tunisia and Morocco taking on Libya in what promises to be a decisive round. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as each team fights not only for regional glory but also for a shot at representing Africa on the global stage.
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