Morocco were crowned champions of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history after defeating two-time winners Mali 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in Saturday’s final at the Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia.
The hosts held their nerve in the shootout, with goalkeeper Zakaria Alaoui saving two penalties to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters after a tense and balanced final between two of the tournament’s standout teams.
This triumph ends Morocco’s wait for a continental title at this level, coming two years after they finished as runners-up to Senegal. For Mali, it was a fifth final appearance and another painful near miss despite controlling large spells of the game.
Both sides had chances during regular time, with Ilies Belmokhtar and Ahmed Mouhoub testing Mali from distance, while Seydou Dembélé and Soumaila Fané caused problems for the Moroccan defence. Fané had a first-half goal disallowed by VAR for handball in the build-up.
The shootout saw Morocco convert all four of their spot-kicks with confidence, while Mali’s Issa Koné and Lamine Keita had their attempts saved.
Coach Nabil Baha’s team impressed throughout the tournament, conceding just once, and showed tactical discipline and resilience in the final to seal a historic win.
