Senegal Vs Morocco: 2023 U-17 AFCON final Match Preview
Senegal and Morocco go head-to-head in the Algeria 2023 U-17 AFCON final match on Friday May 19, 2023. SPORTSRATION presents a preview of the match.
MATCH DETAILS
Competition: 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Fixture: Senegal Vs Morocco
Round: Final Match
Date: Friday 19 May, 2023
Time: 10pm
Venue: Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Senegal have been perfect at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Wins vs Algeria, Somalia and Congo gave the West Africans top spot in Group A with maximum 9-points.
South Africa were crushed 5-0 in the quater-finals before a scrappy 5-4 Semi-final win over Burkina Faso at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba on Sunday handed Senegal a place in the final.
For Morocco, a 2-0 win over South Africa was followed by a 1-0 win over Nigeria. Zambia halted the North Africans hope of a perfect group stage run with a 1-2 result.
Morocco still scooped top-spot in group B to set up a quater-final vs tournament hosts Algeria.
A 3-0 win for Morocco silenced the home crowd and set tone for a spirited performance in the 6-5 penalty shootout win over Mali.
Both countries will be playing in the final of the U-17 AFCON for the first time.
TWO OF AFRICA`S BEST FOOTBALLING NATIONS AT WAR
The final will pitch two of Africa`s best footballing Nations at each others neck.
Recently, Senegal have dominated CAF competitions, while Morocco sent shock waves around the World with a run to the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
A clear demonstration of their emergence as powerhouses in Africa, reaching the 2023 U-17 AFCON final is a sign of a bright future for both countries.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Senegal U-17 Head Coach Saliou Dia
” We have enjoyed a good time in Algeria and are thankful for everyone and the Algerian people for making this stay comfortable and memorable. Now, the players and Senegal as a team want to write history.
“It will be a good match. Morocco is performing well and achieving good results. We will do all we can to win the title and we will come up with a good game plan to ensure we counter their weak points and contain their strong points. This match is special. It is about making history,”
“The players have to be motivated right before the match and when we get to the field, we have to see what we can do.”
“Morocco has a strong team with a strong defense and we know what they have achieved so far. We have scored 13 goals in this tournament so that means we have a very good attack line. We will go all out against them.”
Morocco U-17 Head Coach Said Chiba
” I am proud of the players and proud of this team. We have made everyone at home proud and now we hope for one more beautiful story,”
” We thank the Moroccan fans for their support and their messages which have really pushed the players. There has been great support from as high up as the King, to the president of the Moroccan Federation and the rest of the public and we hope they can continue supporting us till the final.”
SPORTSRATION SAYS
Senegal have scored 13-times on their way to this final. The West Africans are set-up to dominate their opponents and their physicality will trouble Morocco.
Senegal are favourites to win but with Morocco enjoying the backing of the crowd, anything can happen.
