Senegal is the current African champion in the Senior category, CHAN, Beach Soccer and Under-20 champions
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, May 15, 2023 – Senegal is on course to create history and capture the last remaining African title, the U-17 AFCON, as the local Terranga Lions qualified for the final. Senegal vs Morocco – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers
Senegal, who are the African champions in the Senior, CHAN, Beach Soccer and Under-20, aims to add the fifth title as they will lock horns with Morocco on Friday, May 19, 2023, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
Abdou Aziz Fall scored in the 16th minute for Senegal but Rachide Ouedragao’s late strike forced the match into post-match shootouts, the first in this year’s competition. Senegal converted all their kicks but, on the other side, Souleymane Alio failed to calm his nerve, as he missed sending Senegal to the final.
Senegal’s head coach Salio Dia said: “I congratulate my players who fought hard to achieve this objective of going into the final. I also congratulate Burkina Faso because it was a great quality match between the two sides,” the tactician said.
He added: “Playing the final for the first time is a great achievement for Senegal and we are all proud as a team.”
“We had two opposite styles with Burkina Faso. For us, we try to progress with the ball from the back while Burkina Faso plays with the long balls and attacks the second balls. They were also very strong in midfield. But as a team we put in a great effort,” Dia noted.
“I want to thank the coaches of these players from all over Senegal as well as their training centres. We are trying to put things in place as a country and to give players the Senegalese identity from a young age, instil the values in them and we are now seeing the fruits.”
Morocco has made it to the final for the first time, as their best performance before this was a fourth-place finish when they hosted the tournament in 2013. The Moroccans eliminated Mali 6-5 after a goalless draw in normal time.
Morocco’s coach Said Chiba said: “We knew that we were going into a difficult game and we needed to manage it well and to ensure Mali, which is a very high-level team, does not find its rhythm and channels to attack. We played compact as to how we had planned.”
He added; “We were patient and very organized and this was the only solution for us to win. We executed our plan well and these players have demonstrated a lot of tactical discipline beyond their age.”
“I am proud of the players and proud of this team. We have made everyone at home proud and now we hope for one more beautiful story,” Chiba added.
