U17 AFCON: Morocco crowned African Champions after victory over Mali

The Moroccan U17 national team has conquered the summit of African football by winning the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, following a thrilling final against Mali. In front of a jubilant home crowd, the Atlas Cubs kept their composure to triumph in the penalty shootout (4–2), successfully defending the trophy on home soil.

Facing a determined Malian side—two-time champions (2015, 2017) and previously eliminated by Morocco in the semifinals of the last U23 AFCON—the young Lions showed their intent from the very first minutes. Energetic and ambitious, they tested goalkeeper Sinaba on multiple occasions. Mali thought they had opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Fané, but the goal was rightly disallowed for a handball after a VAR review. That turning point reignited Morocco’s dominance, especially through the surging runs of Ziyad Baha, though the breakthrough remained elusive.

The second half was just as fiercely contested, with sharper Moroccan attacks driven by their determination to break Mali’s solid defense. The Belmokhtar-Ouazzane duo stood out with their movement, but the Malian backline remained unshaken. On their end, Mali’s Young Eagles continued to threaten on the counter, keeping the outcome uncertain until the final whistle. In the last fifteen minutes, the tension was palpable, and technical errors made Morocco’s attempts less threatening.

The match had to be decided by penalties. And, as if scripted, it was Moroccan goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch who rose to the occasion once more. Already crucial in the semifinal against Côte d’Ivoire, he delivered again by saving two Malian penalties, stepping up as a national hero. As the final line of defense and guardian of Morocco’s dream, Bellaarouch ensured his team lifted the trophy in a collective eruption of joy. This triumph marks another milestone in the rise of youth football in Morocco, with new generations increasingly determined to leave their mark on history.