Algeria's Disappointment in U20 African Cup Qualifiers
The final day of the UNAF qualifiers for the U20 African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2027 has proven to be a disheartening experience for the North African teams involved. Algeria faced Egypt with the critical need to secure a victory in order to qualify, but was met with a 0-2 defeat, extending their ongoing drought. Meanwhile, Morocco, who had already secured their spot in the tournament, succumbed to a surprising 2-3 loss against Libya, relinquishing the top position to the Egyptian side.
On Tuesday in Ismailia, the stakes were high for the second qualifying ticket. Morocco had already clinched their place following a decisive 2-0 victory over Egypt three days prior, while Egypt held six points compared to Algeria's four. The calculation for the Fennecs was straightforward: only a win would allow them to surpass the Egyptians and join the Lionceaux in the upcoming CAN.
Algeria's Long Wait Continues
Unfortunately for the young Fennecs, there was no miracle this time. Facing their direct competitor for qualification, they fell to Egypt, thus witnessing another chance to participate in the U20 CAN slip away. This marked a significant disappointment for a team that had shown promise earlier in the tournament. After a draw against Tunisia and a strong victory over Libya, Algeria had hopes of advancing but faltered against Morocco.
The ongoing absence from the continental tournament is becoming increasingly concerning for Algeria, as their last participation in a U20 CAN finals dates back to 2013 when they hosted the event. Thirteen years later, the Fennecs find themselves once again on the brink of the tournament but unable to cross the threshold.
In contrast, Morocco's earlier success had alleviated some pressure ahead of their match against Libya. With their qualification secured, the Lionceaux aimed to finish the qualification campaign undefeated and maintain their group lead. The match started well for Morocco, with Khalid Kasbi opening the scoring in the 18th minute. However, Libya turned the tide with two goals before halftime and added a third in the second half. Although Morocco managed to pull one back, they ultimately fell short.
This loss does not alter the fact that the Lionceaux have already qualified for the U20 CAN 2027 in Ghana, but it does cost them the top spot in the group. Egypt's victory over Algeria allowed them to finish the qualifiers with nine points, surpassing Morocco, who remains at seven points. As a result, both nations will represent North Africa in the upcoming U20 African Cup of Nations.
The final standings of the UNAF U20 tournament are as follows:
| Rank | Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | Morocco | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Algeria | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 4 | Libya | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 5 | Tunisia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
As reported by afrik-foot.com.
