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Watch: Jay Jay Okocha shines as Morocco beat Egypt for title in U23 AFCON

Austin Jay-Jay Okocha represented his country Nigeria at the continental stage despite the Olympic Eagles not qualifying for the tournament

Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha graced the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as he proudly brought out the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations trophy ahead of the final showdown, Soccernet.ng reports.

The iconic figure of the Nigerian took centre stage as the highly anticipated U-23 AFCON final between Morocco and Egypt unfolded in Rabat.

With his illustrious career leaving an indelible mark on football fans worldwide, Okocha had the honour of presenting the coveted trophy on the pitch before the commencement of the thrilling match.

Watch the video here:

The clash between the host nation and the defending champions was filled with excitement and tension, requiring extra time to determine the ultimate victor.

Egypt drew first blood with a goal from Mahmoud Saber Abdelmohsen Hassan just ten minutes into the contest, giving his team an early advantage.

However, Egypian’s joy was short-lived, as Hassan received a card and was sent off just eight minutes after scoring.

Undeterred by their red card disadvantage, Egypt managed to hold onto their lead. However, the resilient Moroccan side equalized in the 37th minute through Yanis Begraoui, leading to a deadlock that persisted until the end of regulation time and forcing the match into extra time.

It was in the extra time that Moroccan midfielder Oussama Targhalline emerged as the hero, securing the decisive goal from a free kick. With the home crowd erupting in jubilation, the hosts celebrated their triumph by lifting the AFCON trophy.

Aissam Charai’s determined troops emerged as the AFCON title winners, clinching a hard-fought victory over defending champions Egypt with a scoreline of 2-1 in extra time.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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