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.
