Egypt U20 coach Nabih calls for courage and composure against Morocco
Egypt coach Osama Nabih says his side will fight “with strength and courage” as they prepare to face Morocco in Thursday’s semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.
Fresh off a dramatic quarter-final triumph over Ghana, which secured Egypt a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, the young Pharaohs are now focused on continental glory in front of their home fans.
“This match is like an Arab final,” Nabih said during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
“Morocco is a strong and well-organised opponent. They’ve been impressive across all levels, and we must rise to the challenge.”
Egypt qualified for the semi-finals after a pulsating 2-2 draw with Ghana in regular time, eventually prevailing 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout.
The result not only kept their U20 AFCON dreams alive but also confirmed their return to the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2011.
“The pressure of qualifying for the World Cup was massive,” Nabih admitted.
“Now that the players have done it, they’ve gained psychological stability. It gives them peace of mind to focus on playing their football.”
Nabih reflected on the competitiveness of the tournament, noting that Egypt were originally grouped with Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa before the draw was reshuffled.
Interestingly, all four sides now make up the semi-final line-up.
“It’s poetic in a way,” he said.
“All those teams have battled their way here through tough matches, and that says everything about their quality. It also shows the calibre of our preparation.”
Egypt will face a Moroccan side that edged Sierra Leone 1-0 after extra time in their quarter-final clash.
Morocco remains unbeaten in the tournament and boasts one of the best defensive records in the competition, having kept three clean sheets in four games.
Kabaka: “We’ve Made a Vow to the Nation”
Midfield workhorse Ahmed Khaled “Kabaka,” who played a pivotal role in Egypt’s midfield during the group stage and knockout phases, believes the team’s resolve has never been stronger.
“We’ve made a vow to ourselves and the nation that we’ll fight until the end,” he said. “Morocco are a tough opponent, but we’ve shown great character to get this far.”
Kabaka believes qualifying for the U-20 World Cup has given the squad an additional morale boost ahead of their biggest test yet.
“There’s a real sense of purpose in this team. The boys are determined to make Egypt proud. The World Cup ticket gave us belief, and now we want to win the trophy.”
North African Derby Under the Lights
The clash at Cairo’s June 30 Stadium promises to be a spectacle. Both teams are unbeaten, boast rising stars, and are driven by national pride. It will also be a repeat of their qualifier meeting in late 2024, which Morocco won 2-1.
With a home crowd behind them and renewed confidence in their ranks, Egypt will be looking to turn the tables and reach their first U-20 AFCON final since 2003.
Kick-off is at 18:00 GMT on Thursday.