AFCON U-17 / Morocco – Côte d’Ivoire: A Place in the Final to make history
This Wednesday evening (8:00 PM), at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, Morocco will face Côte d’Ivoire for a spot in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025. The Atlas Cubs have never won this competition.
Now playing on home soil, they’re determined to write a new chapter in their footballing history. But standing in their way are the unpredictable and bold Young Elephants, who earned their place in the semi-finals through sheer grit against Senegal. It promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Pressure? Yes. But Above All, Ambition
Since their opening match, the young Moroccan side has consistently impressed three wins from three in the group stage, followed by a commanding 3-1 victory over South Africa in the quarterfinals. A composed run, built on collective strength and discipline. “The group is doing well, united and focused. We know what we want: to win this AFCON,” said Elyes Saidi in the pre-match press conference.
But the atmosphere in Mohammedia will be electric. Playing at home, in front of passionate fans, can be a blessing… or a burden. Moroccan coach Nabil Baha, who has placed great emphasis on emotional control, has chosen to shield his squad. “I picked Mohammedia as our base camp because it’s a quiet town. I wanted them away from distractions, to stay focused on the mission,” he explained.
A Chance to Make History
Morocco has reached the final of this competition once before in 2023, in Algeria but were narrowly defeated 2-1 by a more clinical Senegal side. This time, their ambitions are even greater, especially having already secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar 2025. But that’s not where the journey ends. “The quarterfinal was important, but now we need to go all the way. You don’t get to play an AFCON semi-final every day,” insisted Baha.
The Rise of the Young Elephants
On the other side, Côte d’Ivoire approach the match without fear. They were impressive in the group stage with two emphatic wins against Mali (4-2) and the Central African Republic (6-1), and a solid draw against Angola (0-0). Their mental strength was on full display in the quarterfinals, where they knocked out reigning champions Senegal on penalties (0-0, 5-3).
That stunning result has placed the young Ivorians among the tournament’s serious title contenders. “We respect Morocco, but we didn’t come here just to watch,” declared their head coach.
The attacking duo of Yannis Touati and Alynho Haidara reflects the team’s technical and athletic flair, while their disciplined midfield is adept at soaking up pressure and launching swift counterattacks something that could trouble Morocco’s structured approach.
The Weight of Symbolism
This match also carries a symbolic undertone. Back in January 2024, during the senior AFCON held in Côte d’Ivoire, it was Morocco’s victory over Zambia in the final group game that allowed the Elephants to advance to the Round of 16 — a win that would eventually lead them to lifting the trophy. When asked whether this created a sort of “debt,” Morocco’s coach firmly dismissed the idea.
“It would be disrespectful to think they’ll go easy on us. I want a real match — fair, intense, between two great teams.”
He added: “What they achieved at home, they fully deserved. Now, we want to earn our place in the final too.”
One Semi-final, Two Footballing Philosophies
This Morocco vs Côte d’Ivoire clash pits two contrasting football identities against one another. Morocco’s game is about build-up play, possession, and precision in transitions. Côte d’Ivoire’s is all about directness, power, and belief in breaking the rhythm.
But beyond tactics and styles, this semi-final is a celebration of the future of African football.
“They’re still kids. They need to learn how to play, how to lose, how to win, and how to bounce back. This tournament is their school of life,” said Baha emotionally, noting that he speaks to his players “as if they were his own sons.”