By Spy Uganda
The Morocco U23 team secured their third consecutive victory in the TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, eliminating the Congo with a score of 1-0 on Friday.
The victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat cemented the home nation’s place at the top of Group A with maximum nine points after the final round of matches at the group phase.
The Moroccan team, the first to secure their spot in the semifinals, completed the group stage with a perfect record, accumulating nine points and claiming the top position in Group A.
Conversely, the Congo team exits the competition without earning any points.
The Moroccan team began the game with strength, immediately immersing themselves in the intensity of the match. Defender Omar El-Hilali threatened the Congolese goal early in the 4th minute with a powerful shot that sailed above the crossbar.
Moroccan forward Younes Taha opened the scoring early in the match, finding the back of the net in the 7th minute. Taha penetrated the defense and struck a powerful shot from outside the box, which deflected off Congolese defender Jacques Ndiki Bamba and found the net. This put the “Atlas Lions” ahead with a 1-0 lead against Congo.
Forward Taha Hussein attempted to reach the Congolese goal once again, firing a strong shot from outside the box in the 23rd minute. However, Congolese goalkeeper Samba made a difficult save, deflecting the ball out for a corner.
Moroccan captain Osama Targhaline also unleashed a powerful long-range shot in the 35th minute, but the Congolese goalkeeper once again positioned himself well and saved a certain goal.
Congo’s left winger, Nzau, came close to equalizing in the 40th minute with a strong shot, but Moroccan goalkeeper Elias Maghoo expertly parried it away.
The first half concluded with Morocco leading Congo Brazzaville 1-0. The Moroccan team dominated proceedings, impressing the Moroccan supporters who filled the stadium.
Congo attempted a comeback in the second half but failed to make any headway against a strong and organized Moroccan defense.
The Moroccan team came close to scoring a second goal in the second half, creating numerous opportunities, but their efforts went unrewarded. The match ended with a 1-0 victory for Morocco over Congo, a match that saw the Moroccans thoroughly dominate their opponents.
As Morocco continues its impressive campaign in the tournament, they cement their status as one of the top contenders and maintain their unbeaten run, while Congo departs without a single point to their name.
