While the A team concludes its qualifiers for CAN 2025, several youth categories also had a busy schedule with encouraging performances, including the U20 team and the U17 team.
The national youth teams continue to shine in regional competitions, testifying to the development of grassroots football in Morocco.
For their debut, the U20 team dominated UNAF host country Egypt, winning 2-1 at the Suez Stadium in the city of Ismailia. Morocco took the lead thanks to Saad Haddad, who scored in the 40th minute, followed by a second goal by Othmane Maâma in the 68th minute. Egypt reduced the gap with a goal from Mohamed Al-Banna in the 49th minute.
The second match was also conclusive for the Lion Cubs of the Atlas who showed a certain consistency by beating Tunisia with a score of 2 goals to 1.
The goals of the Lion Cubs of the Atlas were scored by Mouad Dahak (48th) and Reda Laalaoui (71st), while Khalil Ayari scored the only goal for Tunisia (1st).
After this match against Tunisia, the U20 national team will face Algeria on November 20 and Libya on the 23rd of the same month. This tournament, which takes place in Egypt from November 14 to 26, 2024, is a qualifying competition for the Africa Cup of Nations.
For its part, the Moroccan national under-17 team did not do poorly either and concluded its match against its Tunisian counterpart with a score of parity (2-2), Sunday, as part of the tournament of North African Union (UNA) organized in Morocco and qualifier for the next U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
During this match played at the Père Jégo stadium, the Lionceaux opened the scoring thanks to Ziyad Baha in the 30th minute, before Adam Chouita doubled the lead in the 67th minute.
With this result, the Moroccan U17 team brings its total to 4 points, obtained thanks to a victory and a draw. She will face Libya this Wednesday at the Bachir stadium, in the city of Mohammedia, to try to qualify.
This North African tournament allows young teams from the region to compete for continental events, notably the U17 CAN.
