Nigeria’s proud report within the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations stays intact after Morocco defeated Mali in a dramatic penalty shootout to win the 2025 version of the match on house soil, Soccernet.ng studies.
The Golden Eaglets, five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, collectively maintain the report for many U17 AFCON titles alongside Mali, Ghana, Cameroon, and Gambia—all with two trophies every.
However Mali’s bid to maneuver clear and change into the outright most profitable group within the competitors’s historical past led to heartbreak on Saturday evening.
Regardless of Nigeria’s absence from this 12 months’s competitors, many Nigerian followers watched occasions in Morocco intently, realizing their nation’s long-held report was in danger.
Ghana additionally didn’t qualify, whereas Gambia and Cameroon crashed out within the group stage. It was left to Mali to try to transfer clear, however they had been denied in agonising style.
In a tense, goalless closing on the Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia on Saturday evening, it was Morocco who triumphed 4–2 on penalties to seal their maiden U17 AFCON title, ending years of close to misses after ending runners-up in 2023 and fourth in 2013 once they first hosted the match.
Zakaria Alaoui proved Morocco’s hero within the shootout, saving two spot-kicks from Issa Koné and Lamine Keita to disclaim Mali their third title.
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Mali had arrived within the closing filled with confidence, having dispatched Tunisia and Burkina Faso within the knockout rounds. A win would have added to their earlier triumphs in 2015 and 2017 – and would have ended Nigeria’s joint maintain on the title report.
However Morocco, led by head coach Nabil Baha, had been tactically disciplined and defensively stable all through the ultimate. The hosts had earlier seen off South Africa and Ivory Coast—by way of penalty shootouts—and once more held their nerve when it mattered most.
In the course of the closing, each side created half-chances, however neither might discover a breakthrough in open play. Morocco’s Ilies Belmokhtar and Ahmed Mouhoub examined Mali’s goalkeeper from vary, whereas Seydou Dembélé and Soumaila Fané carried Mali’s attacking risk. Fané even thought he had scored within the second half, however the purpose was dominated out by VAR for handball.
It was left to the penalty shootout to settle issues, and Morocco had been flawless. Ziyad Baha, Zakari El Khalfioui, Amine Ouahabi, and Belmokhtar transformed their efforts with calm assurance.
The outcome retains Nigeria degree on the high of the U-17 AFCON honours checklist—a small however necessary supply of satisfaction for a rustic with such a wealthy custom in youth soccer.
Whereas the Golden Eaglets will little question be dissatisfied to not have certified for the match, the end in Mohammedia ensures their legacy stays intact, a minimum of for now.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns right into a ball of ardour when writing about Nigerian soccer and its abilities, whether or not rising stars or established legends, domestically and overseas.
From the deepest corners of the Center East, to the inexperienced fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the wealthy soils of Africa, Imhons is greater than glad, normally with a glass of a tasty drink close by, to seize the essence of the sport, by connecting the dots between tradition, id, and soccer.
