Morocco advanced to the final of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Mali in a dramatic and closely contested semi-final encounter on Tuesday evening.
The host nation faced a tenacious Mali side, with both sides giving their best in a tense match that finished in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
Morocco seized the lead twice throughout the exciting game, but Mali came back each time to tie the score.
The game had to be settled by a penalty shootout, where Morocco kept their composure and converted four of their kicks, while Mali only managed to score two of their four efforts. The host nation has advanced to the final, where they will meet reigning champions Egypt on Saturday.
Notably, both Morocco and Egypt, as finalists, have already guaranteed their qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, giving the forthcoming final even more significance.
Meanwhile, Mali and Guinea will compete for the bronze medal in a match on Friday. The bronze medal match winner will also receive a berth in the Olympic Games, while the losing team may still qualify in an intercontinental playoff.
Source: Ghanasoccernet.com
