Latest news with #U-23
Daily Tribune
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifying Draw to Take Place on Thursday
The road to the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 will take its next step on Thursday, 29 May, as the official qualifying draw is set to take place at 3:00pm local time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). A total of 44 national teams will discover their fate as they vie for places in the seventh edition of the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time in January 2026. 11 Groups, 1 Goal: Qualification The draw will split the 44 participating nations into 11 groups of four teams each. Matches will be played in a single round-robin format, with all matches within a group hosted by one country. The qualifying fixtures are slated to run from 1 to 9 September 2025. Fifteen spots are up for grabs in the final tournament. Hosts Saudi Arabia, the reigning champions from the 2022 edition, qualify automatically. They will be joined by the 11 group winners and the four best second-placed teams across all groups. Debutants and Format This year's qualification round sees two newcomers enter the fray: Bhutan and the Northern Mariana Islands, both set to make their debut in AFC U-23 competition. Teams will be seeded into four pots ahead of the draw, based on a points system derived from their final rankings across the last three U-23 Asian Cup tournaments. The tournament is seen as a key step in youth development across Asia and often serves as a platform for emerging stars to break into their senior national teams and professional ranks.
Ya Biladi
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan football has been experiencing its golden age since 2022
If we were to pinpoint the starting point of the golden age of Moroccan football, most would agree on the year 2022. Yet it's important not to overlook a key milestone that came earlier: in February 2021, Morocco's local national team won the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the second time in a row, defeating Mali 2–0 in the final. That victory in Yaoundé marked a turning point, showcasing the strength of a team composed entirely of players from local leagues. More than just a trophy, it sent a clear message to the rest of the continent: Morocco was laying the groundwork for lasting success. Qatar 2022: A Dream Run The peak of this footballing rise came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Under coach Walid Regragui, the national team made history as the first African side to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup— and in spectacular fashion. With wins over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, the Atlas Lions captured global attention with their passion, tactical discipline, and unity. Though they eventually fell to France (0–2) and then to Croatia (1–2) in the third-place match, Morocco's fourth-place finish marked a turning point, symbolizing a continent that is no longer just participating but making its mark on the world stage. The Lionesses Roar In 2022, it was women's football that made waves. That July, Morocco hosted the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, and the Atlas Lionesses—spurred on by a passionate home crowd—reached the final for the first time in their history. Although they fell to South Africa (1–2), they earned widespread respect and laid the foundation for a promising future. Just a year later, in August 2023, they made their debut at the Women's World Cup. Once again, Reynald Pedros' team impressed, advancing beyond the group stage before being halted by France (0–4) in the round of 16. It may have ended in defeat, but it was a historic milestone—one that sets the stage for even greater achievements ahead. The Olympic Dream and Futsal Triumph That same year, the Atlas Lion Cubs claimed their first continental title by defeating Egypt 2–1 in extra time in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations held in Rabat. The victory secured Morocco's qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the U-23 team made history by winning the bronze medal—Morocco's first-ever Olympic medal in football. The Moroccan national futsal team has become a benchmark in Africa and beyond. The team has won three consecutive editions of the Africa Futsal Cup of Nations—in 2016, 2020, and 2024—clinching the latest title with a commanding 5–1 victory over Angola in the final held in Rabat. On the global stage, Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the Futsal World Cup in both 2021 and 2024, marking its best performances in the tournament's history. In 2022, the Atlas Lions added a major international trophy to their collection by winning the Futsal Confederations Cup, becoming the first African nation to claim this intercontinental title. 2025: Youth Reign Over the Continent April 2025 marked another milestone in Morocco's football renaissance with a new and promising triumph: the U17 national team clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title in their category. Playing on home soil, the Atlas Lion Cubs impressed on all fronts—defensive solidity, cohesive teamwork, and flashes of individual brilliance. In a thrilling final against Mali, they emerged victorious in a penalty shootout (0–0, 4–2 on penalties) in front of a roaring crowd in Mohammedia. The tournament showcased an exceptional generation of talent. The name on everyone's lips is Abdellah Ouazzane, a midfielder from Ajax Amsterdam, who was named Player of the Tournament. His composure and vision belied his age. In goal, Chouaib Belaarouch—trained at the Mohammed VI Academy—was rock solid, conceding just one goal throughout the competition. He became the hero of the final and was awarded Best Goalkeeper. On the sidelines, coach Nabil Baha shaped a cohesive and ambitious team, earning the title of Best Coach of the Tournament. A Model in the Making Behind these achievements lies a carefully constructed foundation: modernized training centers, growing professionalism, a wide-reaching talent identification strategy, better integration of dual nationals, the rise of women's football, and the emergence of related disciplines like futsal. Morocco is no longer merely dreaming—it is steadily and methodically building a new era. Moroccan football is undoubtedly in its golden age. And with the momentum of its younger generations, bold continental and global ambitions, and major projects on the horizon—including hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-hosting the 2030 World Cup—the journey is far from over. Moroccan fans now dream of a long-awaited second continental title, half a century after their first in 1976.
