Soccer
Nigeria’s proud record in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations remains intact after Morocco defeated Mali in a dramatic penalty shootout to win the 2025 edition of the tournament on home soil, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Golden Eaglets, five-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winners, jointly hold the record for most U17 AFCON titles alongside Mali, Ghana, Cameroon, and Gambia—all with two trophies each.
But Mali’s bid to move clear and become the outright most successful team in the competition’s history ended in heartbreak on Saturday night.
Despite Nigeria’s absence from this year’s competition, many Nigerian fans watched events in Morocco closely, knowing their country’s long-held record was at risk.
Ghana also failed to qualify, while Gambia and Cameroon crashed out in the group stage. It was left to Mali to try and move clear, but they were denied in agonising fashion.
In a tense, goalless final at the Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia on Saturday night, it was Morocco who triumphed 4–2 on penalties to seal their maiden U17 AFCON title, ending years of near misses after finishing runners-up in 2023 and fourth in 2013 when they first hosted the tournament.
Zakaria Alaoui proved Morocco’s hero in the shootout, saving two spot-kicks from Issa Koné and Lamine Keita to deny Mali their third title.
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Mali had arrived in the final full of confidence, having dispatched Tunisia and Burkina Faso in the knockout rounds. A win would have added to their previous triumphs in 2015 and 2017 – and would have ended Nigeria’s joint hold on the title record.
But Morocco, led by head coach Nabil Baha, were tactically disciplined and defensively solid throughout the final. The hosts had earlier seen off South Africa and Ivory Coast—via penalty shootouts—and again held their nerve when it mattered most.
During the final, both sides created half-chances, but neither could find a breakthrough in open play. Morocco’s Ilies Belmokhtar and Ahmed Mouhoub tested Mali’s goalkeeper from range, while Seydou Dembélé and Soumaila Fané carried Mali’s attacking threat. Fané even thought he had scored in the second half, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for handball.
It was left to the penalty shootout to settle matters, and Morocco were flawless. Ziyad Baha, Zakari El Khalfioui, Amine Ouahabi, and Belmokhtar converted their efforts with calm assurance.
The result keeps Nigeria level at the top of the U-17 AFCON honours list—a small but important source of pride for a country with such a rich tradition in youth football.
While the Golden Eaglets will no doubt be disappointed not to have qualified for the tournament, the result in Mohammedia ensures their legacy remains intact, at least for now.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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