Afcon U17 final between Morocco and Mali was moved with excitement on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 3 p.m., a change that criticized the criticism of Morocko’s head coach Nabil Baha on Thursday during the press conference in Casablanca.
The Royal Maroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced the time change on its official website, with broadcaster Arryadia confirming the new schedule on social media. The final will take place on April 19 at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia.
“We are ready to play this game at 3 p.m.. My players are used to playing with their clubs at this hour. We are prepared for all scenarios”, Baha ” specified During the press conference. “But when I talk about the match timing, I not only talk about the climate, but also about the presence of supporters who prefer to see games in the evening.”
Baha expressed a clear disapproval of the schedule: “We have to adapt to all of these details. It has to be said: We do not agree with this time change, since the competitive final is usually played in the evening. The third game is played at 8 p.m., while the final takes place at 3 p.m.. This is a change of the last minute.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the five-hour further development of the kick-off time, which also provoked reactions from Moroccan followers on social media platforms, was not made an official reason for the five-hour progress.
The FRMF announced that the ticket sale for the final online will continue online via the platform www.webook.comThe fans encourage “to buy tickets immediately to participate in this continental event under the best conditions.”
Despite the planning controversy, Baha continues to concentrate on the match: “To cope with the pressure, I will tell my players that they enjoy this finale to analyze what was done in previous games against Mali to identify their weaknesses and improve. Even if the games are not the same, the philosophy of Malian football often remains the same.”
The Moroccan U17 team qualified For the finale after the ivory coast was defeated in the semi -finals (0: 0, 4: 3 in punishments), while Mali secured her place by defeating Burkina Faso 2-0.
Baha admitted with the pressure to play a continental final and admitted: “It is true that there is a certain pressure because we play at home and the public awaits a victory in this final, but we are prepared for it. The players are motivated and want to play this game as soon as possible.”
During the press conference on Thursday, Baha also spoke about the determination of his team to write history: “There are several factors that come into play in a game like a CAN final, but the players are motivated and want to enter the history of Moroccan football.”
“We prepared well to put Mali in a match that is played on details such as physical freshness,” he added and found that “there is a certain pressure on us because the public is waiting for this final and especially for the continental title.”
As the finalist in the previous edition, the U17 team in Morocco wants to win the competition this time and rise to the World Cup planned in Qatar as an African champions.
Mali’s coach Adama Diallo also spoke to the media: “Playing the final is one thing, it is different. This is an important game for us and we will give everything to secure victory.”
The AFCON U17 final between Morocco and Mali will take place on Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia.
