Morocco claimed their first victory in the Union of North African Football (UNAF) U20 tournament with a 3-1 win over Algeria at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, on Wednesday.
The fixture was the third matchday of the competition, which serves as a qualifier for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations U20 in Ghana.
Algeria made the brighter start. Mouhammad Valmy tested Chouaib Bellaarouch in the ninth minute after profiting from a loose ball near the edge of the Morocco penalty area, but his deflected effort was turned behind.
Saad Boussadia of Lille went close two minutes later after cutting through the Moroccan defence, only for Bellaarouch to save again. Algeria continued to threaten and, in the 12th minute, two players got in each other’s way as they attempted to finish a chance from the left.
Morocco’s first attempt came after the quarter-hour mark, when Monaco winger Ilies Belmokhtar saw a shot from the right diverted for a corner by Mohammed El Koubi of Paradou.
The Atlas Lion Cubs then grew into the match. Hamza Raji missed their clearest opening of the first half in the 38th minute, heading over from Belmokhtar’s cross despite being unmarked in front of goal.
Mohamed Mounssef forced another save from El Koubi three minutes later after holding off a challenge from Adam Letlat of West Bromwich. Morocco finished the half strongly, although Valmy narrowly missed giving Algeria the lead against the run of play with a low effort following a through ball in the fourth minute of added time.
Algeria captain Yanis Sellami of OM tested Bellaarouch from distance shortly after the restart, with the goalkeeper needing two attempts to secure the ball. It proved to be the final meaningful opportunity for the Algerians before Morocco took control.
Morocco strike three times
Morocco scored three times in an 11-minute spell as Algeria’s resistance collapsed.
Sami Bouhoudane opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, driving a powerful shot into the roof of the net from the right after receiving the ball from substitute Safouane Benzahra of Monaco.
Bouhoudane, the Cambuur centre-forward, then turned provider three minutes later. He headed the ball across goal for Mounssef, who finished into an empty net after El Koubi had come off his line and failed to deal with the danger.
Belmokhtar delivered the set-piece for Morocco’s third in the 64th minute, with Ilyas Hidaoui heading a free-kick from the right beyond the goalkeeper.
El Koubi denied Raji in the 69th minute, before Letlat cleared off the line four minutes later to prevent further damage.
Algeria, coached by Hocine El Orfi, pulled one back in the 84th minute through Amdjed Niou of ES Ben Aknoun, who beat Bellaarouch with a neatly placed cross-shot.
The Fennecs missed two late chances to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Bellaarouch saved in the first minute of added time, while Mohamed Mehdi Meziane of Olympique Akbou fired over from a clear opportunity at the penalty spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Morocco had drawn 0-0 with Tunisia in their opening match and now move into a stronger position in the standings. Algeria must achieve a positive result against Egypt to keep their qualification hopes alive, while Morocco face Egypt and Libya in their remaining matches.
