Egypt’s U-17 national team continued its impressive journey in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Ivory Coast to book a place in the semi-finals. The win confirmed that qualification for the World Cup was not the final destination, but rather the beginning of a bolder push toward competing for the continental title.

The Young Pharaohs entered the match with clear character from the opening minutes, imposing their rhythm on the game at Pitch 11 of the Mohammed VI Football Academy. Egypt’s superiority quickly turned into a goal-scoring display that ended Ivory Coast’s hopes early.

A Dominant Egyptian First Half Sets the Tone

Egypt did not take long to turn its control into goals. Khaled Mokhtar opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a pass from Adham Hasib, giving the Young Pharaohs an important advantage at a crucial stage of the first half.

Less than ten minutes later, Egypt continued its attacking pressure, as Ahmed Bashir added the second goal in the 38th minute following an assist from Ahmed Safwat. Khaled Mokhtar then returned to score his second goal and Egypt’s third in first-half stoppage time, sending the team into the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

That advantage was not just about the scoreline. It reflected Egypt’s focus across the pitch, from defensive organization to midfield control and attacking efficiency, giving the team a major psychological and technical edge before half-time.

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Tanzania Await as the Dream Moves One Step Closer

In the second half, Ivory Coast tried to find a way back into the match and managed to reduce the deficit through a penalty scored by Cissé. However, the goal did not shake the Young Pharaohs, who handled the following minutes with calmness and maturity, preventing the game from becoming an open contest.

As the match approached its final stages, Ziad Saudi ended any remaining Ivorian hopes by scoring Egypt’s fourth goal in the 84th minute, sealing a deserved victory and confirming Egypt’s place in the semi-finals.

Egypt are now set to face Tanzania on Thursday, May 28, after the Tanzanian side eliminated Algeria. The clash is expected to be highly competitive, with the Young Pharaohs aiming to take another step toward the African final.

This victory completes Egypt’s rising campaign in the tournament. The team began the group stage with a goalless draw against Ethiopia, then earned an important win over Tunisia before losing to Morocco. Egypt then moved into the knockout rounds and delivered one of its strongest performances against Ivory Coast.

Egypt are no longer satisfied with simply celebrating World Cup qualification. The team is now raising its ambitions toward the African podium, in a tournament that could mark the true beginning of a new generation knocking on the doors of Egyptian football with confidence, personality, and major victories.