CAF U-23 championship: North Africans shine as Morocco, Algeria win

Rabat, Morocco – Host Morocco got on to a winning start, beating Nigeria 1-0 as the inaugural CAF Under-23 football championship got underway on Saturday. The goal was scored in the 28th minute via a penalty kick converted by Abdelaziz Barrada. Nigeria was penalised after Iyke Anyanwu rough-tackled Yacine Qasmi inside the penalty area. The match, played on a chilly night at the Tangiers Stadium, was watched by a small crowd, most of whom rooted endlessly for the host team.

In the second group A match also played on Saturday, Algeria beat Senegal by the same 1-0 scoreline.

The result made it a day of defeat for two of the three West African teams participating in the championship, which doubles as the qualifier for the men’s football event of the 2012 London Olympics

Substitute Mehdi Benaldjia scored Algeria’s goal in the 78th minute.

But he was adjudged to have over-celebrated the goal when he pulled off his jersey, and was slammed with a yellow card.

The next matches in the group are slated for Tuesday between winners Morocco and Algeria, and losers Nigeria and Senegal.

Group B action starts on Sunday with two matches in Marrakesh: Egypt versus Gabon and South Africa against Cote d’Ivoire.

The top three teams from the competition, which will run through 10 Dec., will represent Africa at the London Olympics.

The fourth-placed team will get a chance to fight for another slot at the Olympics, by engaging in a play-off against an Asian side.

Meanwhile, Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen has said his Dream Team V, as the Nigerian Under-23 teams is known, still has a chance to reach the final of the CAF championship, despite Saturday’s loss.

“We will put this game behind us and focus on the next game against Senegal. There is every possibility that we could still meet Morocco again in the final of this championship,” MTNfootball online quoted Eguavoen as saying.

The Nigeria coach admitted his team was below par against Morocco, which could have been caused by the early exit of defender Kingsley Udoh due to injury.

On his part, Morocco coach Pim Verbeek praised his team for getting off to a winning start.

“I’m pleased with the way we played and it is great to win the first match. We created many chances that should have seen us  score more than the one goal we got. We should learn to put away chances we create,’ the coach said..