The Egypt U20 National Team secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Libya, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alive.
Heading into the match, Egypt knew only a win would suffice to stay in contention for the AFCON. The team dominated the first half, creating numerous chances but failing to convert, resulting in a goalless draw at halftime.
In the second half, Egypt increased the intensity, which led to Libya’s captain Abdelmohaymen being sent off in the 69th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Egypt capitalized on the advantage when Ahmed Kabaka converted a penalty in the 75th minute to give his team the lead.
However, Libya responded quickly, equalizing just two minutes later through Abdulaziz Mansour, putting Egypt under pressure once again. In the 90th minute, Abdallah Bostangy rose to the occasion, heading the ball into an empty net to secure the win for Egypt.
Egypt now sits on four points from three games. Morocco leads the standings with seven points from three matches, followed by Tunisia with three points from two games. Algeria holds fourth place with two points from two matches, while Libya remains at the bottom with zero points.
The top two teams in the group will qualify automatically for the U20 AFCON.
Egypt’s final game will be a decisive clash against Tunisia on November 26, 2024, where a win will likely be necessary to secure qualification for the tournament.