Despite Egypt’s loss to Morocco in the final of the TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, head coach Mario Rogerio Reis Micale expressed his admiration for his players’ performance.
The gripping final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, saw Morocco emerge victorious with a 2-1 win over Egypt, who played with ten men.
During the post-match press conference, Micale acknowledged the dominance of his team until the red card altered the course of the game. He commended his players for their hard work and their continued effort even after being reduced to ten men.
“I congratulate the Egyptian team for their performance despite the defeat,” added Micale, who had previously won an Olympic Games gold medal with the Brazil team.
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Micale extended his congratulations to the Egyptian team for their overall performance, highlighting their resilience in the face of defeat. With previous experience of winning an Olympic Games gold medal with the Brazil team, Micale’s understanding of the challenges in high-stakes competitions allowed him to appreciate Egypt’s efforts.
The coach also expressed gratitude towards the Moroccan fans for creating an electrifying atmosphere at the stadium, acknowledging their contribution to the spectacle of the final.
While disappointed and saddened by the disruption caused by the red card to their winning strategy, Micale emphasized that his young players would learn valuable lessons from this tournament.
“Although I am disappointed and saddened because we had planned a winning strategy, unfortunately, the red card disrupted our plans,” explained Micale.
He assured that they would prepare diligently for the Paris Olympic Games next year, aiming to perform even better on the global stage.
