The Moroccan national team's qualification for the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is well deserved, said head coach Mohamed Ouahbi on Thursday in Cairo, emphasizing his players' determination to claim the continental title. "Our players showed composure and unity throughout the match and should be proud of their performance," Ouahbi told reporters following Morocco's 1–0 semi-final win over host nation Egypt. After a tightly contested first half, Morocco sought to control the rhythm of the game and create numerical superiority by pushing the full-backs forward, the coach explained. Looking ahead to the final against South Africa, Ouahbi predicted a thrilling contest that would meet public expectations. He praised his squad's performance and expressed confidence in their ability to secure a strong result. Team captain Houssam Essadak acknowledged that the match was tough, especially against an Egyptian side playing at home. He said the final presents an opportunity to repeat the success of 1997. Commenting on being named man of the match, Essadak said the honor reflected the collective effort of the team and vowed that the players would do everything possible to bring the trophy home. Egypt coach Oussama Nabih, for his part, congratulated the Moroccan team and wished them well in the final. He noted that his players were highly motivated and put in a solid performance despite the result. The final will take place on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in Cairo, where Ouahbi's squad will face South Africa, who beat Nigeria 1–0 in Ismailia thanks to a 66th-minute goal by Tylon Christopher Smith. All four semi-finalists—Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria—have qualified for the U-20 World Cup, which is set to take place from September 27 to October 19 in Chile.
