The final of the African Under-23 Nations Cup will take place this Saturday, July 08, 2023, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, Morocco and Egypt, two motivated teams with remarkable backgrounds for a game considered historic.
In search of a first continental title in the category, Morocco came out first in pool A with three wins (nine points). The Atlas Lions scored 11 goals and conceded five. They eliminated Mali in the shootout semi-final, 4-3, after a draw, 2-2.
This match against Egypt is an opportunity to make history. Through this final, we also want to show that the future of Moroccan football is promising», said Atlas Lions coach Issame Charai at the pre-game press conference on Friday.
He said his team expects to play a tough game against Egyptians who have not yet conceded a goal in this tournament. “Victory will not come easily, but my team is perfectly prepared for the challenge, as nothing will be handed to us on a silver platter,” he said.
He stressed the need for his players to “stay calm and focused”. “We can’t afford any mistakes. Our players need to stay cool and have confidence in their abilities,” he said.
The Pharaohs determined to keep their title
Champions of the title, the Pharaohs of Egypt are motivated to keep their title,” says coach Mario Rogerio Micale.
With a good track record, Egypt is the only team that hasn’t conceded a goal since the start of the tournament. She scored four goals in four games. Egypt came out first in pool B with seven points.
According to Mr. Micale, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist with Brazil, “these types of games send chills in the back.
The coach does not need to make long speeches because our motivation is already at its highest.
“Even if the stadium will be against us, it is in these complex situations that the most glorious victories are forged. It is important to manage emotions and stay focused in the face of an electrifying atmosphere”, said the Egyptian coach since August 2022.
However, he acknowledged that the Atlas Lions “have formidable attackers who are deadly in front of the goal”. “I sincerely believe that we will be faced with a tactical approach that we have not yet encountered in this tournament,” he warned.
Both teams are qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. They will be joined by the winner of the third place match between Mali and Guinea.
