U-17 AFCON: Hosts Morocco overcome fierce Ivorian resistance in suspenseful penalty shootout

Photo Credit: @CAF_Online/X

2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco are through to the final where Mali awaits after a dramatic penalty kick shootout victory saw Les Lionceaux advance past Ivory Coast after a 0-0 draw. Morocco will face Mali in the final on Saturday while Ivory Coast battle rivals and neighbors Burkina Faso in the third place match on Friday.

Ahmed Mouhoub calmly placed his spot kick past Ivory Coast goalkeeper Christ Kouassi after outstanding performances by both goalkeepers in the shootout. Morocco goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch saved three spot kicks to help the hosts progress.

It could have been a different story. With passionate home support urging Morocco on, the Ivorian team performed admirably and effectively shut down the Moroccan attack. The hosts struggled to find a goal throughout the match and it appeared that a penalty shootout was the only way they could progress.

Ivory Coast created the best opportunity close to halftime when Cedric Gobehi set up star striker Alynho Haidara. With only Bellaarouch to beat from eight yards out, the goalkeeper produced a spectacular effort to close down and deny a 7th goal of the tournament for Haidara.

Bellaarouch saved the Moroccan team and after a similar story in the second half, the goalkeeper was allowed to win the semifinal for his team by denying the first two penalty kicks from Ivory Coast. Kouassi did brilliantly to deny Morocco star Abdellah Ouazane on what was set to be the winning fifth spot kick for Morocco but after Bellaarouch saved from Vasseri Sylla, Mouhoub's well taken kick clinched victory.