Morocco Faces South Africa in Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Final Rematch

Twenty-eight years after winning the continental title against South Africa in 1997, the Atlas Lion Cubs meet the Amajitas in the final this Sunday to try to repeat the feat. Yanis Benchaouch and his teammates will face a formidable opponent who managed to defeat the big favorite, Nigeria, in the semi-final. The South Africans will give their all to win this final in order to write their name in the history of the competition. The mission will therefore not be easy for Ouahbi’s men who have had a flawless run since the beginning of the competition and are determined to win the CAN for the second time.

The Moroccan coach remains confident in his players and hopes to bring the cup home. South Africa is certainly a serious opponent, but the Lion Cubs have the assets to win this match, Ouahbi said after the victory against Egypt in the semi-final. "It’s a final that brings together the two best teams of the tournament. South Africa is a good team that develops a good game with a preference for ball possession and quick transitions. I think it will be a good final and we are ready and confident in our abilities," he said. And he added: "I’ve been repeating it since the beginning of the tournament, we want to win this trophy. We approach this final with serenity, a lot of humility and confidence."

The Moroccan U20s face their South African counterparts this Sunday at the Cairo International Stadium. Kick-off, 7 pm (Moroccan time).