MATCH FACTS: Cote d'Ivoire hope history repeats itself in TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON semi-final against hosts Morocco
This is the second meeting between Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON. Their previous clash was also at the semi-final stage with Morocco as hosts in 2013. Cote d'Ivoire won that game 2-1.
The Ivoirians are meeting a host nation for the fourth time. Their record against the tournament hosts reads P3 W2 L1. They won 7-0 against Botswana at the group stages in 1999, defeated Morocco in the last four in 2013 and in between lost to Rwanda 1-0 in the semi-final in 2011.
Morocco have only faced West African teams in the last four. In addition to losing to Cote d'Ivoire in 2013, they overcame Mali on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 2023, winning the shoot-out 6-5.
MOROCCO FACTS
· Morocco are in their third semi-final, along with last four appearances in 2013 and 2023.
· All three of Morocco's last four appearances have come in tournaments hosted in North Africa. This is the second time, along with 2013, that they reach the last four as hosts. They were runners up in 2023 with Algeria as hosts.
· Morocco's tournament ended in 2013 when they were previously hosts against the Cote d'Ivoire at the semi-final stage. They then lost the play-off for third against Tunisia and ended fourth.
· In CAF age-group tournaments hosted by Morocco, they reached the final at the 1997 TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations and won the tournament.
· Morocco are aiming to reach back-to-back finals at U17 level after they were runners up in 2023. The last team to reach consecutive finals was Mali, who did so in 2015 and 2017.
· Morocco are looking to become the fifth host nation to reach the final. Previous hosts to have made it to the deciding game are Gambia in 2005, Togo in 2007, Algeria in 2009 and Rwanda in 2011.
· All four previous hosts who reached the final did so in four successive tournaments between 2005 and 2011. The last host nation to reach the final was Rwanda in 2011.
· Morocco have conceded one goal at the finals through their four games, which was in their 3-1 win over South Africa in the quarter-finals.
· They have conceded the fewest goals of all the teams still remaining in the tournament.
· Morocco have scored 11 goals at the current finals, the most they have scored in a single edition, surpassing the 10 they managed on home soil in 2013.
· Morocco have scored the second most goals at the tournament thus far, only Burkina Faso (12) have netted more.
· Morocco's win against South Africa in the last-8 was the second time they scored three goals in a knockout game at the finals. They also scored three in their 3-0 win against Algeria in the quarter-finals in 2023.
· Morocco's Ziyad Baha has four goals at the current finals. He is the second Moroccan after Younes Bnou Marzouk to net four goals in a single edition. The latter scored four goals at the 2013 finals.
· Abdellah Ouazane has scored two goals for Morocco at the current finals and another goal will see him go level with his elder brother Zakaria, who scored three goals for Morocco at the 2023 finals.
COTE D'IVOIRE FACTS
· Cote d'Ivoire are appearing in the last four for a fourth time along with 2005, 2011 and 2013.
· Cote d'Ivoire reached this stage by defeating Central African Republic 6-1, drawing 0-0 with Angola and then defeating Mali 4-2 in the group stages, before overcoming defending champions Senegal on penalties in the quarter-finals after the game ended 0-0.
· Their record in the semi-finals with games decided on penalties recorded as wins and losses reads P3 W1 L2.
· They were Champions when Morocco hosted in 2013 and defeated the hosts in the last-4 on that occasion to reach the final, where they defeated Nigeria on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They won the shoot-out 5-4.
· Their other semi-final encounters saw them lose to Ghana in 2005. The game went into extra time before they lost 2-0. They also lost to Rwanda 1-0 in 2011.
· Cote d'Ivoire are facing a tournament host for the third time. Previously they lost against Rwanda in the 2011 semi-finals and won against Morocco in the 2013 Semi-final. All of Cote d'Ivoire's games against tournament hosts have been in the last-4.
· They have been involved in two penalty shoot-outs and won the final in 2013 against Nigeria after a 1-1 draw they prevailed 5-4 in the shoot-out. At the current finals, a 0-0 draw in the quarter-final against Senegal was followed by a 5-3 win in the shoot-out.
· The 10 goals Cote d'Ivoire have scored at the current finals is the most they have netted in a single edition, overtaking the nine they managed in 2011.
· Cote d'Ivoire have received six yellow cards thus far, the joint most of all the semi-finalists along with Burkina Faso.
· Alynho Haidara is Cote d'Ivoire's highest scorer at the current finals with six goals. He is the tournament's second highest scorer.
· Haidara has scored his six goals from eight shots on target. Overall he has a shooting accuracy of 57.1%, which is only bettered by Burkina Faso's Asharaf Tapsoba, who has a shooting accuracy of 62.5%.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
6 hours ago
- CAF
East Africa has shown it can compete with the rest of the continent
For years, East African national teams and clubs have struggled to make a mark on the continental stage. Only a handful of clubs have managed to reach the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League or the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup, while national teams have rarely made deep runs at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) or the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN). However, the ongoing Pamoja 2024 CHAN, jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, has demonstrated that East Africa is ready to compete at the highest level. This is the view of the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), which has been closely monitoring performances at the tournament. Members of the TSG made the observations during a live show on leading Kenyan television station KBC on Wednesday. They made the appearance to share detailed analysis on the tournament so far, including tactical trends, player performance patterns, and emerging coaching strategies. As all three co-hosts have advanced to the quarterfinals, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda topping their respective groups – it is a historic feat for the region. 'The East African teams have shown that they have the belief, and this has pushed them to work harder and that is why we see the results,' said TSG member Oscar Mirambo. "This has proven to be a good platform for East African football, because many players are gaining their first international experience here, and they are proving to be doing that well. Moving on to the AFCON in 2027, I believe the countries have shown that they can make a big statement." South African legend Mark Fish, also part of the TSG, echoed the same sentiments, praising the performances of the co-hosts. 'The three hosting countries are all in the quarters and this is something special for them. It shows that there is something in their leagues and it is good for their football,' Fish observed. "It shows they are doing something right and the CHAN will now offer them a platform to boost this further. Pamoja is unique especially because we are seeing the incorporation of so many young players who were at the U17 and U20 AFCON." Another member of the TSG, Michael Amenga, who previously served as Kenya's Technical Director, noted that the competition has highlighted tactical and technical growth within East African football. 'We are seeing a huge development of players. We have seen players who are now more flexible to adapt to versatility and players who can compete well at the highest level technically,' Amenga explained. "CHAN gives us as East Africa a huge boost in terms of exposing our players to this kind of competitive level and it will be hugely important for us moving to AFCON 2027 where the stage is bigger." The TSG members have also been on a Kenyan tour, visiting various media houses to share insights on the technical aspects of CHAN 2024. Their mission is not only to analyze the competition but also to help raise the standards of the game across the continent. 'Our role basically is to help the teams and federations improve by dishing out technical advice and hoping that in this way we can improve the game in our continent,' Fish added. The success of the three co-hosts at Pamoja 2024 has already started changing the narrative. For East Africa, this CHAN has not just been about participation – it has been about proving that the region belongs among Africa's footballing elite.
CAF
21 hours ago
- CAF
We have seen huge improvements at this year's TotalEnergies CHAN: TSG
Members of CAF's Technical Study Group (TSG), have hailed the ninth edition of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), PAMOJA 2024, as one of the most technically impressive in recent Ethiopian national team coach Abraham Mebratu and ex-South African international Mark Fish, both members of the competition's TSG, made these observations on Tuesday. They made the observations when they made an appearance on leading Kenyan television station NTV to explore key technical insights on the group stage of the competition. During the discussions, members of the CAF TSG shared detailed analysis on the tournament so far, including tactical trends, player performance patterns, and emerging coaching strategies. Tactical Evolution and Attacking Play Fish noted a visible shift in how teams approach matches compared to the previous tournament. 'We are seeing a shift from the last CHAN where teams have been more proactive. Teams are now more attack-minded, with dynamic formations, and even defenders stepping up to act almost like midfielders,' Fish told NTV in Kenya. This evolution has produced more goals. With 36 matches played, 74 goals have been scored—an average of two per game. Burkina Faso's 4-2 victory over the Central African Republic remains the highest-scoring match, while Sudan's 4-0 triumph over Nigeria in Zanzibar is the biggest margin. Players Show More Versatility Fish further praised the improved versatility of players: 'Players have become more versatile, teams are scoring more, and I think that's the way forward. It's exciting to see the direction our football is taking.' Mebratu agreed, highlighting fast transitions and improved tactical flexibility. 'Teams are switching really well between attack and defense, playing at a high tempo. There is a huge improvement especially in terms of attack,' he said. Bold Use of Young Talent Another notable highlight has been the increased use of young players, some as young as 17. Mebratu commended coaches for trusting youngsters who have delivered impactful performances. Fish added that the new generation is more tactically disciplined and focused on teamwork while still showing individual quality. Hosts Shine in Quarter-Final Push The three co-hosts—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—have also been praised for reaching the quarter-finals. Kenya and Tanzania both topped their groups, while Uganda advanced after a thrilling 3-3 draw against South Africa. Kenya face Madagascar, Tanzania meet Morocco, and Uganda play holders Senegal in the last eight. Fish was particularly impressed with the discipline and coaching standards shown by the East African teams. 'I have seen better coaching, more disciplined players, and teams adapting really well to tactical instructions. I've been very impressed by the three host nations,' Fish remarked. East African Rise Mebratu emphasized the improvement of East African teams, including Sudan, who have combined fitness with technical organization. 'The players are physically fit and play with very good technical and tactical ability. Their organization both in and out of possession has been really impressive,' he said. Eyes on the Knockouts With the group stage complete, focus now turns to the quarter-finals, where the TSG expects even more exciting football and tactical battles to unfold.
CAF
21 hours ago
- CAF
Hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda complete Quarter-final line-up as TotalEnergies CHAN PAMOJA 2024 reaches climax stage
Published: Wednesday, 20 August 2025 Hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have all secured the passage to the last eight phase of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, following the conclusion of the group phase. Kenya, who have been a surprise package in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, emerged as winners of Group A, booking their place in the last eight alongside runners-up Morocco. In Group B, Tanzania topped the Group while Madagascar joined them after showing impressive resilience to progress. Group C saw Uganda delight their home supporters by securing first place, with Algeria also advancing after a tightly fought campaign. The drama of Group D produced qualification for Sudan, who clinched top spot, while Senegal completed the list of quarter-finalists as runners-up. With the group stage concluded, the focus now shifts to the much-anticipated quarter-final encounters to be played on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 August 2025. On Friday in Nairobi, Kenya will face Madagascar at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, before another East African giant, Tanzania, take on Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam later the same evening. The action continues on Saturday with Sudan meeting Algeria at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, while Uganda go head-to-head with Senegal at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala to round off the quarter-final line-up. The winners will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for 26 and 27 August, with the eagerly awaited Final set for Saturday, 30 August 2025. Quarter-Final Fixtures Friday, 22 August 2025 17:00 – Kenya vs Madagascar – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi 20:00 – Tanzania vs Morocco – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam Saturday, 23 August 2025 17:00 – Sudan vs Algeria – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar City 20:00 – Uganda vs Senegal – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala For more information on the TotalEnergies CHAN Pamoja 2024, including fixtures and results, please visit – ENDS – CAF | Communication Department communications@
