The Junior Lions of Senegal on Sunday afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers conquered the junior team of Congo in the second match of the Group A first round by a lone goal.
16 year old Defender, Serigne Fallou Diouf born December 31st and wearing the number 4 Jersey wrecked the stubborn Congolese team in the 77th minute after a tactical change bringing in a midfielder in No 5 Jersey for the outside left in no 11 just a minute before the goal.
Senegal dominated the match having 21 shots at goal with 7 on target when Congo had 4 with only one on target; Possession was 61-39% in favor of Senegal; Senegal stringed 343 passes with 73% accuracy while Congo stringed 235 passes with 50% accuracy. The foul calls were 21-14 against Congo; the only 3 yellow cards were for Congo while Senegal had 9 corner kicks to Congo’s only one.
Both teams were determined to win the match coming to the CAF U17 party for the 2nd time each. Senegal never made any impact losing always at the Group stages both in 2011 and 2019 at the last edition but Congo had won Bronze in 2011 at Rwanda beating Ivory Coast 2-1 but lost at the group stages making the 7th position at the 2013 games in Morocco.
Incidentally Ivory Coast had won the 2013 games beating the Golden Eaglet 5-4 on penalties after playing 1-1 after Extra Time.
Senegal had beaten Congo before on 23rd January 2023 3-1 after playing 1-0 at half time.
Only yesterday at the opening match, hosts Algerian Foxes defeated Somalia via a brace from Moslem Anatouf making Algeria to top Group A on goals difference at the end of the first round matches as both Algeria and Senegal have 3 points each.
Group B opens with the Golden Eaglets taking on the Junior Chipolopolo of Zambia at 1700 Hours Nigeria time later today Sunday 30th April at the Mohammed Hamlaou Stadium in Constantine. The House is full with the Assemble of the Super Eagles Supporters Club already in Constantine. Nigeria had beaten Zambia 3-0 in Niamey, Niger Republic in 2015.
At 2000 hours Nigerian time, Morocco will trade tackles with the South African Junior team for the second match in group B. Both teams have never met at that stage.
Nigeria is seeking to lift the trophy for the 3rd time through Group B. Zambia has never reached the Semifinal. Morocco’s best was losing the highest goals of penalties ever at U17 10-11 to Tunisia after 1-1 in 2013 at the Losers Match when the country hosted. South Africa’s best losing in the 2015 final in Niger Republic to Mali 0-2 but lost at Gambia 2005 0-1 to Ivory Coast in the 3rd place match. Nigeria has an enviable record of lifting the world U17 cup four times.
Tomorrow Monday, Group C will take the stage with lions of Cameroun versus South Sudan at 1700 hours before Mali will battle Burkina Faso at 2000 hours. The Match between Cameroon and Sudan will however not take place because CAF had dismissed Sudan as five of her players failed the MRI test which is a medical device for bone age determination in Sports.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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