MATCH FACTS: Hosts Morocco meet Mali in TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations final
Morocco and Mali are meeting for the second time at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations, having last met in the semi-finals of the 2023 edition where the game ended 0-0 before Morocco prevailed 6-5 on penalties.
Morocco are searching for their first title in this age-group and featuring in their second final, while Mali are looking for their third title in their fourth final.
The other former champions are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.
Should Morocco win they will become the 10th different team to lift the trophy.
Morocco have had the best defence en-route to the final, conceding just a single goal, and have kept four clean-sheets. Mali have conceded six goals and kept just two clean-sheets.
This is the fourth time a North African team are featuring in the final. Morocco are the first North African side to feature in multiple deciders. Previously, Algeria in 2009, Egypt before them in 1997 and Morocco themselves in 2023 reached the final.
Victory for Morocco will see them become the second North African team to win the title along with Egypt, who did so in 1997.
No region has had more finalists than West Africa with 10 different nations having reached the decider – Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Victory for Mali will see a West African nation win a 12th title. The only time the trophy has not been won by a team from the region was Cameroon in 2003 and 2019, and Egypt in 1997. A West African team has always featured in the final.
This is the fourth time North and West African teams meet in the decider. Egypt defeated Mali 1-0 in 1997, Gambia beat Algeria 3-1 in 2009 and Senegal won 2-1 against Morocco in 2023.
Of the last nine winners, eight have been West African teams. The only title in this time not won by a team from the region was Cameroon in 2019.
In the 14 previous finals, we have had two decided on penalties. In the 2013 decider Cote d'Ivoire overcame Nigeria 5-4 on spot kicks after a 1-1 draw. While in 2019, Cameroon and Guinea ended 0-0 before the Indomitable Cubs won 5-3 on penalties.
Cameroon's penalty shoot-out win over Guinea in 2019 is the only time that a final has ended 0-0.
The highest scoring finals have all produced four goals. They are 3-1 wins for Ghana over Nigeria in 1995 and Guinea in 1999, while Gambia overcame Algeria in 2009.
The biggest margin of victory for any team in the final was Nigeria's 3-0 triumph over Burkina Faso in 2001.
Of the previous 14 finals, seven have seen the winning team victorious by a single goal with five of those games ending 1-0 and two finishing 2-1.
Morocco U-17 coach Nabil Baha scored Morocco's fourth goal in a 4-0 win against Mali in the semi-finals of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.
Between the two finalists, Morocco have a conversion rate of 27.5% while Mali's conversion rate is 15%.
Mali have managed to completed 1,653 passes with an accuracy of 78.42%, while Morocco have completed 1,449 passes with an accuracy of 78.45%.
MOROCCO FACTS
· Morocco are featuring in their second successive final. They join Burkina Faso (1999 & 2001) and Mali (2015 & 2017) as having reached back-to-back finals.
· The only team to have previously lost in back-to-back finals was Burkina Faso, going down 3-1 to Ghana (1999) and 3-0 to Nigeria (2001).
· Defeat for Morocco will see them join Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria as teams who have lost in two finals.
· Morocco are the fifth host nation to reach the final along with Gambia in 2005, Togo in 2007, Algeria in 2009 and Rwanda in 2011.
· When the hosts have contested the final previously they have lost three times. The only team that has managed to win the title at home was Gambia in 2005.
· The last three hosts to have reached the final have all lost – Togo in 2007, Algeria in 2009 and Rwanda in 2011.
· Morocco's penalty shoot-out record reads W2 L1. In 2013 they lost the third-place play-off game against Tunisia 11-10 on spot-kicks after a 1-1 draw. In their 2023 semi-final the game ended 0-0 against Mali before they won 6-5 in the shoot-out. At the current finals they managed to defeat Cote d'Ivoire 4-3 in the last-4 after the game ended 0-0.
· Morocco goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch has kept four clean-sheets in five games. He has conceded just a single goal, the fewest by any goalkeeper whose team has reached at least the semi-finals.
MALI FACTS
· Mali are featuring in their 46th game at the finals – no team has featured in as many games as they have.
· Mali are featuring in their fourth final along with 1997, 2015 and 2017.
· Victory for Mali will see them win their third title along with previous wins in 2015 and 2017. They will become the first team to win the title three times.
· Mali are the third team along with Ghana and Nigeria to feature in four finals. All three teams have so far won two titles.
· Regardless of the result, Mali will finish in the top three for a seventh time. No team will have more top three finishes than them. Mali will finish in the top two for a fourth time.
· In their previous finals, Mali lost 1-0 to Egypt in 1997, won 2-0 against South Africa in 2015 and defeated Ghana 1-0 in 2017.
· Mali meets a host nation in the final for the first time.
· This is Mali's second final against a North African team after they lost to Egypt in 1997.
· Mali are facing a tournament host for the fourth time their record reading P3 W2 L1. This will be a first knockout encounter.
· Previously against tournament hosts, Mali won against Botswana in 1997 in the group stages 2-1, and beat Seychelles 8-0 in the pool phase in 2001. They lost their last meeting against a host, going down 3-2 to Gambia in the group stages in 2005.
· Mali have lost just two games in open play in their last 20 at the finals, against the Cote d'Ivoire at the current finals and Burkina Faso in the play-off for third in 2023 (W13 D5).
· Mali have been involved in four penalty shoot-outs at the finals previously (W2 L2).
· Mali have conceded six goals at the current finals, the most since letting in seven in 2005 when they were eliminated at the group stages.
· Mali have scored nine goals at the current finals, the same number of goals they scored in 2015 and 2017 when winning the title. They only scored more goals in 2001 when finishing third (11).
· Ndjicoura Bomba is Mali's top scorer at the current finals with three goals, he has also made two assists and has five goal contributions for them.
· Mali's Soumaila Fane scored and made an assist in their 2-0 win against Burkina Faso in the Semi-final, it was the second time in the tournament that he did so. He also scored and assisted a goal in their 2-0 win over Central African Republic in the group stages.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
9 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
3 days ago
- CAF
Sudan's bold attack and Senegal's calm defiance: A Group D clash with history at stake
When the lights turn on at Zanzibar's Amani Stadium, the final Group D clash of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) will pit two very different philosophies against each other. Sudan, revived and resolute under Kwesi Appiah, come armed with a fearless attacking blueprint. The former Ghana coach insists that his side will not retreat against defending champions Senegal. 'I don't go into games to defend. The best way to defend is to attack. We're playing for goals. There are 11 players in each team; why should we stay back?' Appiah declared, reaffirming his aggressive approach. 'Whether it's at the CHAN, AFCON, or the World Cup qualifiers, my intention is to win.' Sudan sit top of the group after dismantling Nigeria 4-0, and only need to avoid defeat to secure a quarter-final berth. But Appiah's tone makes clear: mere survival is not enough. An unbeaten streak and a growing belief Under Appiah, Sudan have gone nearly a year without defeat, their last setback coming in November 2024 against Niger in the AFCON qualifiers — a loss that came after they had already secured qualification. That streak now fuels their belief. 'Senegal is a big team, and we can't underrate them,' Appiah admitted. 'It's not going to be a walkover. We'll need to make sure we fight till the end of the game.' Sudan's confidence is also rooted in variety. They drew with Congo before unleashing four unanswered goals against Nigeria, with scorers emerging from all areas of the pitch. Appiah knows that goals in open play are scarce at CHAN level, so Sudan are honing set pieces as their secret weapon. 'It is difficult to get goals in open play. Teams rely on set pieces. We're working on free kicks as a medium to score,' he explained. Breaking barriers, building bonds Appiah's tenure in Sudan has also been about cultural adaptation. A Ghanaian native, he embraces Sudanese traditions while leaning on his assistants to bridge the language gap. 'For effective communication, I have my assistants who speak Arabic. I issue instructions, and they go ahead to voice them,' he said. The formula has worked, keeping Sudan sharp and united. Captain Fares Abdullah, a central figure in this unity, believes the team will rise even higher against Senegal. 'My performances alongside that of my teammates are a result of the trust we have for each other and our quality. I feel we'll do better against Senegal,' he said. Senegal's Gueye and Diallo: eyes on legacy Across the pitch, Senegal's quiet but dangerous force waits. Forward Libasse Gueye, the man of the match against Nigeria, is not basking in individual glory. 'I won the player of the match award against Nigeria, but football is a collective game. I always put my team ahead. For me to be best, I need to play collectively with my colleagues,' said the 22-year-old. For Gueye, this is no ordinary fixture: 'It's an important game; we are conscious of that. It's one of the biggest matches of my career.' Head coach Souleymane Diallo sees the clash as 'a quarter-final before the quarter-final.' He acknowledged Sudan's stunning win over Nigeria had 'turned the group on its head' but reminded his squad that Senegal are champions for a reason. 'Senegal is a big team in Africa. We are defending champions, but my team is hungry; they want to write their own history.' History is past, hunger is present Senegal's path to the 2022 CHAN title, won on penalties against Algeria, remains a proud memory. But Diallo is adamant that yesterday's glory cannot carry today's burden. 'Being champions for us is history. History remains in the past, but we must capitalize on improving in the present and future.' The numbers show his side are ahead of schedule. 'In 2022, going into the last group game, the team had 3 points. In this edition, at the same level, we have 4 points. It means our performance is superior,' Diallo explained. As the decisive Group D evening unfolds, Congo lurks, ready to pounce if either of these heavyweights slips. A draw would send both through, but one win — or one upset — could change the landscape entirely.
CAF
4 days ago
- CAF
MATCH FACTS: Algeria seek draw against Niger to advance to quarter-finals
Algeria need just a draw against already eliminated Niger to confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 when the two sides meet on Monday. This will be the second CHAN meeting between the nations, but their first in the group stage. Their only previous clash came in the 2022 semi-finals on Algerian soil, when the hosts ran out 5-0 winners. Ayoub Abdellaoui opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Aymen Mahious added a quick double, Niger conceded an own goal on the stroke of halftime, and Sofiane Bayazid sealed the rout in the second half. That 5-0 victory remains Algeria's biggest win at CHAN and also equals Niger's heaviest defeat in the competition. Algeria have enjoyed a strong record against West African opponents, never losing in open play across four matches (W2 D2). They have scored seven goals and conceded only once, in a 1-1 draw with Guinea at this edition. Three of those four matches ended with clean sheets. Niger, by contrast, have struggled against North African opposition. They are winless in three such encounters, losing 5-0 to Tunisia in 2016 and 5-0 to Algeria in 2022, while earning a goalless draw with Libya in 2020. They have never scored in a CHAN match against a North African team, conceding a total of 10 goals. Niger – Key Facts Already eliminated at the group stage for the third time, after 2016 and 2020. Reached the quarter-finals in 2011 and the semi-finals in 2022. Currently on a five-game winless run (D1 L4). Failed to score in their last five matches; last goal was in a 2-0 win over Ghana in the 2022 quarter-finals. Scored in just one of their last five group games, a 1-0 win over Cameroon in 2022. Now 500 minutes without a CHAN goal. First time they have gone three consecutive games at the same edition without scoring. Goalkeeper Mahamadou Tanja made five saves against South Africa to earn their first clean sheet of this tournament. Have never finished an entire CHAN edition without scoring at least once. Algeria – Key Facts Reaching the last eight would mark their third knockout appearance (4th in 2011, runners-up in 2022). Drew their last game 1-1 with Guinea, conceding first for the first time since 2011. Had scored first in each of their six previous matches that produced goals. Now nine games unbeaten in open play (W6 D3), last loss was in 2011 against Sudan. Drawn their last two games, first time they have failed to win successive matches since 2011. Had not conceded in seven straight matches before letting in two across their last two. Never previously conceded in three successive games at one CHAN edition. Two goals conceded at this tournament; their highest tally in a finals is four (2011). Have never gone three games without a win at CHAN. Five goals scored so far, three in the second half; Sofiane Bayazid's equaliser vs Guinea came in the 88th minute. Have never won a CHAN match after conceding first (D3 L1). Scored in their last nine games, last failed to score in the 2022 final vs Senegal (0-0, lost on penalties). In 15 CHAN games, their only defeat in open play remains the 1-0 loss to Sudan in 2011. Have failed to score in just three of their 15 matches, all in knockout or group play in 2011 and the 2022 final. Have scored in 8 of 9 group games, only blanking in a 0-0 draw with Sudan in 2011. Undefeated in nine group matches overall (W5 D4). Managed nine shots on target against Guinea, their most in this edition. Reda Halaimia attempted 69 passes against Guinea, the highest by any Algerian player so far. Have scored in three straight matches; only once before have they scored in four in a row (first five games in 2022).
