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Egypt and Niger battled to a goalless draw in the opening Group B match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Morocco on Sunday.

Although the defending champions Egypt had promised to come all out and win their opening match, they found the match tough at the Ibn Batouta Stadium Tangier

The reigning champions came all out attacking in numbers, but found a well organised Niger team that defended well.

In the first half Egypt’s captain Ibrahim Adel Aly Mohamed had two clear chances to score, but shot wide after 25 minutes. Later Mohamed also had his second attempt saved by the Niger goalkeeper Naim Attenhoven.

The debutant making Niger team that opted for a more defensive approach barely attacked at the Egyptian goal before going into the interval.

In the second half Niger’s Mahamadou Moussa Ismael had an attempt at the Egyptian goal, but missed the target when he fired wide.

The two teams made some changes as Egypt continued to dominate play, but lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.

Egypt will return to action against Mali, while Gabon take on Niger in the two Group B matches to take place on June 28th.

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Spectators attending the clash between Mali and Gabon in the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023 barely had time to settle before the scoreboard underwent a dramatic transformation.

In the 3rd minute, the referee awarded Gabon a penalty following a foul inside the box. Emmanuel Ovono confidently faced Mali’s goalkeeper Lassine Diarra and made no mistake, giving Gabon a 1-0 lead.

However, that goal ignited a fierce response from Mali, who established their presence in Gabon’s territory. Under pressure, goalkeeper François Junior Bekale committed a serious foul, conceding a penalty to the Malians. Mamadou Sangaré equalized the scoreline, making it 1-1.

Shortly before halftime, Sangaré’s teammate Cheickna Doumbia emulated his success, granting Mali an advantage just minutes before the break. It’s worth noting that Gabon’s goalkeeper, François Junior Bekale, was sent off at the end of the first half.

In the 60th minute, Badra Alou Diallo made his first substitutions, bringing on Coli Saco and Alassane Tamboura, who injected a fresh impetus into the struggling West African team in the second half.

The coaching decisions proved to be a winning formula. Just when it seemed the match was heading for a 2-2 draw, Alassane Tamboura, perfectly assisted by Coli Saco, ruthlessly beat Gabon goalkeeper André Biyogo Poko, securing a 3-1 victory for Mali’s promising team.

Gabon, making their return to the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations since their triumph in the inaugural edition in Morocco in 2011, suffered a defeat. However, Saturnin Ibela Ignambi’s squad will have the opportunity to redeem themselves on Wednesday when they face Niger. Meanwhile, Mali will face Egypt in their next fixture.

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Emmanuel Yeboah’s heroics in the second half gave Ghana a 3-2 victory over Congo in the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Watch highlights of the game in the video below;

Ghana survived a late fightback from Congo to secure a winning start in the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament on Sunday.

The Black Meteors looked set for a comfortable victory with two goals from substitute Emmanuel Yeboah and a close-range finish from Ernest Nuamah. However, the Congolese team made a spirited comeback, setting up a tense ending with two goals in stoppage time.

Yeboah, who replaced captain Daniel Afriyie Barnieh at halftime, set up Nuamah with an intelligent pass to tap in Ghana’s first goal. It was nearly 2-0 after a daring attempt from Fatawu Issahaku from his own half hit the post.

Nevertheless, Yeboah overcame his marker and unleashed a low shot that beat the goalkeeper, securing Ghana’s second goal. He then went on to score a penalty. Edmund Arko-Mensah had two opportunities to convert the penalty he won but missed. Fortunately, the goalkeeper Dhody Foutou was off his line on both occasions, resulting in a third kick, which Yeboah calmly converted.

In added time, the Black Meteors became complacent and lost focus, allowing Congo to score two goals within one minute, courtesy of Reich Kokolo and Yann Ngatse.

These goals ensured a nervy finish, but the Black Meteors managed to hold on for a victorious start. Ghana’s next match is against the host nation, Morocco, on Tuesday, followed by the final game in their group stage campaign against Guinea. Ghana currently share the top spot in Group A with Morocco after the first round of games.

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Hosts Morocco showcased their determination and fighting spirit as they rallied from a goal down to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea in the opening Group A match of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Skipper Abdessamad Ezzalzouli converted two second-half penalties to hand the home side a perfect startat the illustrious Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat on Saturday.

In what promised to be an enthralling contest, debutants Guinea started the game on a strong note, displaying dominance and control over the proceedings.

The Guinean side demonstrated their attacking prowess early on, with midfielder Seydoumba Cisse unleashing a powerful shot that was expertly saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Alaa Bellaarouch in the 10th minute.

However, Morocco’s skipper Abdessamad Ezzalzouli came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half, narrowly missing the target with his attempt.

With the clock ticking down and just two minutes remaining in the first half, it was Guinea who drew first blood. Algassime Bah capitalized on a free-kick opportunity from outside the box, striking the ball with precision and finding the back of the net despite Bellaarouch’s valiant effort to keep it out.

Undeterred by the setback, the Moroccan team emerged from the halftime break with renewed determination and purpose. Just three minutes into the second half, Guinea’s Naby Youssouf Oulare made a promising run into the Moroccan box, only to be thwarted by the swift intervention of defender Oussama Targhalline, who cleared the danger for Morocco.

As the second half progressed, Morocco continued to assert their dominance, creating several scoring opportunities. Guinea’s goalkeeper Mory Keita showcased his skills by denying Ibrahim Salah’s powerful strike from outside the box in the 61st minute.

However, Morocco’s relentless pressure eventually paid off in the 67th minute when Ezzalzouli was brought down inside the box, resulting in a penalty. The composed captain stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, sending the Guinean goalkeeper the wrong way and equalizing for his team.

With the momentum firmly in their favour, the Moroccan side persistently attacked, while Guinea attempted to hold their ground defensively.

In the dying moments of the match, after extensive consultation with the VAR team, Guinea conceded another penalty in the fifth minute of added time. Ezzalzouli once again displayed nerves of steel as he confidently dispatched the penalty, securing a 2-1 lead for his team.

In a dramatic turn of events, Guinea’s Naby Youssouf Oulare momentarily believed he had salvaged a draw for his team in the final moments of the match. However, the goal was ultimately disallowed after consultation with the VAR team.

The U-23 Afcon action continues on Sunday as Ghana takes on Congo Brazzaville in a Group A clash, while defending champions Egypt lock horns with Niger. Additionally, in Group B matches held in Tangier, Mali squares off against Gabon in what promises to be an exhilarating encounter.

As the tournament unfolds, the captivating performances and fierce competition serve as a testament to the immense talent on display and the bright future of African football.

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Black Meteors Head Coach Ibrahim Tanko says his team is well prepared for the 2023 TotalEnergies U23 African Cup of Nations tournament.

The National U23 team had a pre-tournament camping in Egypt after weeks of training at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

The Black Meteors drew 1-1 with Egypt U23 and beat Zamalek 4-1 in two pre- tournament friendlies during the team’s stay in Egypt.

According to Coach Tanko, with the preparations they’ve had, his team is poised to achieve their objectives for the tournament.

“Our target is to qualify to the Olympic Games but of ofcourse there is a trophy at stake so we want to win it too”.

“Our preparations have been good. We started in Ghana and went to Egypt. Our objective is to qualify and to win the ultimate”, Coach Tanko said at the pre-match conference on Saturday, June 24 2023.

The Head Coach also mentioned that his technical team has also kept tabs on Ghana’s Group stage opponents.

“I was at the last edition of this competition in Egypt so i have an idea how its going to be. All the teams deserve to be here and I think it’s going to be a very good tournament”, he added.

Ghana will open its U23 AFCON campaign on Sunday against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium in Rabat.

The Black Meteors will then face hosts Morocco and Guinea in subsequent Group matches.