North African teams, Morocco and Egypt have both sealed their places at next year’s football event of the Paris Olympic Games.
Both teams secured qualification after defeating two West African teams, Guinea and Mali respectively at the ongoing CAF U-23 AFCON holding in Morocco.
While Egypt are making a back-to-back appearance in the final, it is Morocco’s first since the 2011 edition.
In the first semi-final Egypt edged Guinea 1-0 while Morocco pipped Mali 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended 2-2.
The final slot to Africa will go to the winner of the third place match between Mali and Guinea, while the team that finish fourth will play the AFC–CAF playoff to decide the final Olympic slot.
The 2023 U-23 AFCON is the 4th edition of the quadrennial African football tournament organized by CAF.
Morocco were the first to host the competition when it was inaugurated in 2011.