The Moroccan under-20 team has secured a place in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for their category (CAN U20), currently taking place in Egypt. After a marathon quarter-final match against Sierra Leone, the young Lions clinched victory thanks to a late goal by Ilyas Boumessaoudi in the 115th minute, following a goalless draw in regular time. Despite being surrounded by Sierra Leonean defenders, Boumessaoudi managed to unleash a powerful shot that found the back of the net, sparing Morocco a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Making their debut in the tournament's knockout stage, Sierra Leone put up a spirited and cohesive performance, constantly threatening the Moroccan goal, which was skillfully protected by goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch Marty. The 19-year-old was instrumental in keeping Morocco in the game, thwarting several well-orchestrated attacks. The match was also marked by the dismissal of Samba Juma Bah in stoppage time (90+8'), leaving Sierra Leone with 10 men. His teammate Saifdu Musa Bangura had earlier received a yellow card (90'). On the Moroccan side, Saad El Haddad (53') and Issa Habri (117') were also booked. Ahead of the game, Morocco's coach and technical staff expressed confidence in the team's preparation and the physical condition of the squad, noting the return to training of previously injured players. In another quarter-final held on Monday, Nigeria became the first team to advance to the semi-finals after defeating Senegal on penalties. Egypt also booked their spot after a shootout victory against Ghana, following a 2-2 draw. Morocco will now face Egypt in an all-Arab semi-final clash.
