MAX TV’S U-23 AFCON UPDATES: Holders Egypt progress after Gabon win

Egypt’s U-23 team secured their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2023 with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Gabon at the Ibn-Batouta Stadium in Tanger.

Egypt, the defending champions, needed only a draw to advance, and they approached the match cautiously against a spirited Gabon side. In the early minutes, Osama Abdelhady had a couple of chances to score but couldn’t find the target. Gabon grew more comfortable on the ball as the game progressed and created some opportunities of their own.

The breakthrough finally came in the 82nd minute of the second half when Mahmoud Hassan scored from the edge of the box after a well-taken corner by substitute Moustafa Sayed before Abdelhady sealed the victory for Egypt with a well-taken penalty after a foul on Sayed in the box in the dying embers of the game.

With this win, Egypt advanced to the semi-finals without conceding a goal in their group matches. They will now face Guinea, the runners-up of Group A, in what promises to be an exciting semi-final clash.