Egypt claimed third place at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations with a composed 2-0 victory over hosts Morocco, sealing the bronze medal in dramatic fashion with a stoppage-time goal.
In a tightly contested encounter, Egypt edged ahead in the first half through Mohamed El Sayed, whose well-taken finish in the 32nd minute gave his side a slender advantage heading into the break. The goal proved to be the defining moment of an otherwise balanced opening period, with Morocco enjoying spells of possession but struggling to break down Egypt’s disciplined defensive setup.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser, urged on by home support. However, Egypt remained organised at the back and looked dangerous on the counter, managing the tempo of the game with maturity beyond their years.
As the match stretched deep into stoppage time, Morocco committed numbers forward in a final attempt to salvage the game. That gamble ultimately proved costly. In the 90+12th minute, Egypt delivered the decisive blow, scoring a second goal to put the result beyond doubt and spark celebrations on the Egyptian bench.
The victory secured Egypt the bronze medal, capping off a strong tournament campaign, while Morocco were left to reflect on missed opportunities in front of their home fans.
Egypt’s clinical finishing and defensive resilience ultimately made the difference on the day, as they signed off their U17 AFCON journey on a high note.
