Host Morocco on Saturday defeated defending Champions Egypt to win the 2023 U-23 AFCON for the first time in their history.
The North African country became only the fourth nation to lift the trophy since the football tournament was launched in 2011.
Recall that Morocco hosted the inaugural tournament and finished runners-up losing to Gabon 2-1 in Marrakech.
Egypt drew the first blood courtesy of a Mahmoud Saber Abdelmohsen Hassan goal 10 minutes into the match giving his team the lead.
The defending champions were soon reduced to 10 men when Hassan got the marching orders, few minutes after scoring the first goal of the encounter.
Egypt did well to hold on to their advantage despite being a man down, but the home equalized in the 37th minute when Yanis Begraoui found the back of the net. The stalemate held until the end of regulation time, sending the match into extra time.
Moroccan midfielder Oussama Targhalline found the breakthrough scoring the deciding goal from a free kick with the hosts hoisting the trophy.
Three teams have qualified to represent Africa as the quadrennial football showpiece also served as the Olympic qualifier.
Morocco, Egypt and Mali will represent the continent at next year showpiece in Paris.
Mali finished in 3rd position after defeating Guinea 4-3 in a penalty shootout to clinch the bronze medal.
However, fourth placed Guinea will go through play-offs with another country in Asia for a place for Africa’s last representative at the football competition of the Olympic games in 2024.