Four Moroccan Players Feature in AFCON U-23 Group Stage Best Eleven

Rabat – Four Moroccan players featured among the best eleven for the group stage of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Defender Mehdi Boukamir, attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari, winger Abde Ezzalzouli, and striker Yanis Begraoui featured on the list, which the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled on Monday.

The rest of the players include four from Egypt, namely goalkeeper Hamza Alaa, defender Hossam Abdelmaged, midfielder Ibrahim Adel, and striker Osama Faisal.

Ibrahima Cisse, Fode Doucoure, and Cheickna Ahmadou Diakite from Mali made up the rest of the list.

Additionally, the Atlas Lions’ coach Issame Charai was named the best coach for the group stage.

Morocco made the tournament’s semifinals with a perfect nine points in the group stage, defeating Guinea, Ghana, and Gabon.

Morocco is set to take on Mali in the semi-final on July 4 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 9p.m. GMT+1.

The second semi-final will have Egypt face Guinea at Tangier’s Grand Stade at 6pm GMT+1.

The top three finishers at the tournament will earn direct qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The fourth-placed team will have to go through an intercontinental play-off against an Asian team to qualify.

The Best Eleven selection highlights the tournament’s high talent level, paving the way for an exciting semi-final phase, CAF said on their official website.