Morocco Falls Short in U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026
The Moroccan U17 team, led by Adam Alioui, faced a heartbreaking conclusion in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), where they were eliminated in the semi-finals, despite being the defending champions. Hopes were high for the team to finish on a positive note, but their journey ended in disappointment, finishing just shy of a podium finish.
This year's tournament proved to be vastly different from the previous edition. After clinching the title in 2025, the U17 squad was eager to secure back-to-back championships, particularly since the competition was being held on home soil. However, their aspirations crumbled in late May and early June. In a crucial semi-final match held in Rabat, Morocco was defeated by Senegal, leaving them with only one opportunity to salvage their tournament performance with a bronze medal. Unfortunately, in the match against Egypt for third place, they fell 2-0, leaving the young Moroccans with nothing more than a "chocolate medal"—a term used to describe a fourth-place finish.
Adam Alioui's Limited Participation
For Adam Alioui, a right-back for Olympique Lyonnais, the tournament was particularly disappointing as he only saw 53 minutes of action throughout the competition. In the match against Egypt, Morocco fell behind within the first thirty minutes due to an early goal. Despite dominating possession with 68% and firing off 24 shots, the Moroccan team struggled to convert their chances into goals, reflecting a lack of efficiency that has plagued them throughout the tournament. Alioui, unfortunately, remained on the bench during the third-place match, unable to contribute to the team's efforts. The second goal from Egypt, which came after twelve minutes of stoppage time, served as a mere footnote to a disappointing end for the Moroccan side. Now, Alioui looks ahead to a short vacation before rejoining the U19 training session in July under a new coaching staff.
As reported by olympique-et-lyonnais.com.
