Rabat, Morocco – (African Boulevard News) – In a much-anticipated encounter, Morocco’s U-17 national team edged Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday to seal a spot in the quarterfinals. Abdel Hamid Maali’s first-half deflected strike was all that was needed to secure a 1-0 victory for the North African side.
Morocco started the game with lots of intensity as they looked to take the game to their Nigerian opponents. The early pressure paid off as Abdel Hamid Maali scored with a deflected shot in the 33rd minute to give the hosts the lead. The Golden Eaglets tried to respond before the end of the first half, but they couldn’t convert their chances.
In the second half, the Nigerians came out stronger as they tried to get back into the game. They had numerous attempts on goal, but the Moroccan defense stood firm. The North African side also had chances to increase their lead, but they were unable to convert them.
The victory means Morocco have qualified for the quarterfinals of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, much to the delight of their coach, Jamal Sellami. Speaking after the game, Sellami expressed his joy at his team’s performance: “I am very happy with the way we played today. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but my players showed great character and determination to get the win.”
On the other hand, Nigeria’s coach, Fatai Amoo, rued his side’s missed chances: “We had our chances, but we couldn’t score. Football is all about taking your chances, and we didn’t do that today. We’ll go back to the drawing board and prepare for our next game.”
Morocco will now face Tanzania in their final group game, while Nigeria will take on Algeria. This victory puts Morocco in a good position to progress further in the competition, and their fans will be hoping the team can build on this impressive performance.
In conclusion, Morocco’s U-17 team produced a solid display to beat Nigeria and qualify for the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. It was a well-deserved victory for the North African side, who showed great determination and character to get the win. Morocco’s next game against Tanzania will be another tough test, but their fans will be confident that their team can continue their good form.
