Morocco Edge Ethiopia to Claim First Win at U17 AFCON 2026

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco secured their first victory at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Ethiopia 2-1 in a dramatic Group A clash, with Talai scoring a stoppage-time winner to spark celebrations among the home supporters.

The win came after Egypt had earlier defeated Tunisia 2-1 in the opening Group A fixture of the day, increasing the pressure on the young Moroccan side heading into the match.

Known as the Atlas Cubs, Morocco entered the game seeking their first win of the tournament to strengthen hopes of reaching the quarterfinals and securing qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup. However, they were forced to work hard against a disciplined Ethiopian side that once again displayed strong organization and defensive resilience.

Ethiopia stunned the hosts in the 24th minute when Kassaw found the back of the net, silencing the home crowd and continuing the solid form Ethiopia had shown in their opening match against Egypt.

Morocco struggled to break down Ethiopia’s compact defensive setup before halftime and, much like their previous match against Tunisia, found themselves chasing the game.

The hosts responded quickly after the break as Moustache scored the equalizer in the 49th minute, restoring momentum in Morocco’s favor and energizing the Rabat crowd.

Morocco dominated possession for much of the second half and continued pressing for a winner, but it appeared the match would end in another draw as regulation time expired.

The decisive moment finally arrived in stoppage time when Talai struck in the 91st minute, completing Morocco’s comeback and securing a crucial three points.

After two matches, Morocco now move into the final round of Group A fixtures with renewed momentum, while the group standings remain tightly contested following Egypt’s earlier victory.