Latest news with #JonesElAbdellaoui
Morocco World
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
CAF Applauds Moroccan Duo El Abdellaoui and Laalaoui Ahead of U20 AFCON Final
Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has praised Moroccan U20 national team players Jones El Abdellaoui and Reda Laalaoui, following Morocco's qualification for the final of the U20 AFCON. Ahead of Sunday's final between Morocco and South Africa in Cairo, CAF highlighted four standout players from both teams, singling out El Abdellaoui as a 'clinical striker' and Laalaoui as the 'midfield metronome.' 'El Abdellaoui's playing time isn't the highest, but his performance borders on exceptional,' CAF wrote on its website. 'He made a strong impact in the semi-final: coming on in the 64th minute against Egypt, he needed just a few moments to find the back of the net.' The confederation further noted, 'A decisive goal, a match rated 7.6, and a sense of calm in high-pressure moments. Jones El Abdellaoui is the type of player who doesn't flinch. His sense of goal and composure in front of the net could prove decisive.' CAF also showered praise on Reda Laalaoui, midfielder for FUS Rabat, highlighting his impressive maturity at just 20 years old. 'Laalaoui exudes remarkable maturity. Irreplaceable in midfield, he dictates the tempo, slows down or accelerates play as needed,' added the statement. 'His standout match? A marathon quarterfinal against Sierra Leone, going the full 120 minutes, earning a performance rating of 8.1. Calm, technically clean, and gifted with excellent passing, Laalaoui embodies balance and discipline—qualities that will be crucial in a final where every ball counts.' Morocco will face South Africa in the U20 AFCON final on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Moroccan time. Tags: afcon u20Morocco U20U20
CAF
16-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON Final: Morocco, South Africa to lock horns in a 1997 repeat Final
Twenty-eight years after their first TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON continental showdown in the final, Morocco and South Africa will meet once again in a repeat of the 1997 final when they clash on Sunday in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title decider Egypt. That 1997 encounter ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Morocco, sealing their first and only TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON crown. Now, nearly three decades later, the Young Atlas Lions will be aiming to recapture that historic success, while South Africa are determined to turn the tables and claim their maiden continental title at this level. Both teams punched their tickets to the final with gritty 1-0 wins in Thursday's semi-finals. South Africa saw off Nigeria thanks to a header from Michael Smith, while Morocco overcame tournament hosts Egypt, courtesy of a composed finish from Jones El Abdellaoui. Morocco have impressed with their defensive solidity and tactical cohesion, boasting a run of clean sheets in the knockout stages. Led by a confident backline and opportunistic forwards, they carry momentum and the weight of history into Sunday's clash. South Africa, meanwhile, have grown in strength as the tournament has progressed. Their victory over a highly-rated Nigerian side was a statement of intent, and coach Vela Khumalo's charges will be desperate to lift the trophy that narrowly eluded them in 1997, just a year after their seniors lifted the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON on home soil. With continental glory, pride, and redemption at stake, the final is poised to deliver a captivating battle between two nations with unfinished business on the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON stage.
