Morocco secured a narrow 1-0 victory over debutants Sierra Leone in extra time to book their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025, thanks to a dramatic own goal by Amara Keita.
Monday’s tense quarter-final at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo saw Morocco dominate possession but struggle to find a way past Sierra Leone’s disciplined defense. The breakthrough finally came in the 115th minute when Keita, under pressure, inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net.
The result was a cruel blow for Sierra Leone, who had shown tremendous spirit throughout the match—particularly after being reduced to ten men late in regular time. Substitute Samba Bah was sent off in the 90th minute following a VAR review for a reckless challenge, forcing the West Africans to play all of extra time a man down.
Morocco, unbeaten in their last 12 U20 AFCON matches, entered the clash as Group B winners and tournament favourites. Despite creating multiple chances through Jones El Abdellaoui, Ismaël Baouf, and Adam El Mokhtari, they were consistently denied by Sierra Leone’s goalkeeper Mohamed Bai Kamara and a determined backline.
Sierra Leone had moments of their own, with standout Momoh Kamara forcing a sharp save from distance in the 113th minute. However, their fairytale run came to an end, despite having stunned hosts Egypt 4-1 earlier in the tournament.
This win marks Morocco’s first semi-final appearance since 2005 and confirms their qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this year. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s side showed patience and tactical discipline, eventually breaking down the team that had conceded the most goals in the quarter-finals.
Though eliminated, Sierra Leone exit with heads held high, having impressed in their first-ever U20 AFCON campaign. Performances from Kamara and Alpha Turay showcased the nation’s potential on the continental stage.
Morocco now await the winner of the South Africa vs. DR Congo match as they prepare for a high-stakes semi-final showdown.
