Morocco U23 beat Ethiopia 1-0 in Dire Dawa on Thursday in the first leg of the second round of qualifying for the 2027 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, with Younes El Bahraoui scoring the only goal.
The win gives Morocco U23 a one-goal lead before the return leg in Rabat on 17 November, and the winner of the tie moves into the third and final qualifying round, according to Hespress.
How did Morocco U23 win in Dire Dawa?
El Bahraoui scored in the 28th minute, Hespress reported in French. The Al-Taawoun forward, who previously played for RS Berkane, converted a cut-back from the right from the penalty spot, and the visitors defended the lead for the rest of the match under their coach, Jamal Aït Benidir.
Ethiopia came closest to an equaliser in the 64th minute, but the Moroccan goalkeeper made the save, according to the French-language site Afrik-Foot. Moroccan outlets in Arabic, including Journal24, reported the same 1-0 score.
What happens next for Morocco U23?
The return leg is scheduled for 17 November at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Africa Top Sports reported. Morocco take a one-goal advantage into the match, and Ethiopia must overturn that deficit at the Moroccan end.
The senior national teams were also in action on Thursday; results are in our round-up of the AFCON qualifiers.
FAQ
What was the score between Morocco U23 and Ethiopia?
Morocco U23 won 1-0 in the first leg in Dire Dawa on 12 November 2026, with a goal from Younes El Bahraoui, according to Hespress.
When is the Morocco U23 return leg against Ethiopia?
The second leg is due on 17 November 2026 at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Africa Top Sports reported.
What does the winner of the Morocco U23 tie win?
The winner reaches the third and final qualifying round for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Egypt, according to Hespress and Foot Africa. The competition is run by the Confederation of African Football.
