Eniola 0latunji reporting.
#CAFU20Egypt2023
Goal scorer, Samba Diallo
CAF U20 Tournaments’ favorites, Cub Lions of Senegal survived a scare of the Squirrels of the Benin Republic with a lone goal victory at the Cairo International Stadium a result god enough to qualify Senegal for the Semifinals winners of Congo versus Tunisia battle scheduled for Friday and the prestigious appearance at the Indonesia U20 World Cup later in the year.
It was the first goal of the Senegalese Captain Samba Diallo, the 20-year-old Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine attacker who scored 51st minute though there was a sensational moment when Defender Suleymane Bassa shot at goal made the horizontal bar to vibrate before bouncing back to play in the 67th minute a situation that was reckoned to be a goal as the goalkeeper was totally displaced.
Papa Diop the only player to have a hat trick, three goals in a match was completely marked off despite a big wound on his right thigh in a match reminiscent of mediaeval football of “if you miss the ball don’t miss the leg”. Diop scored 59th, 73rd and 76th minutes against Mozambique in a 4-0 routing at the group A stages.
Benin republic were there waiting for penalty shootouts as they cud hardly string good passes, collecting the only two yellow cards of the match not earning a single corner kick but conceding 3.
Senegal was three times Bronze Medalists in 2015, 2017 and 2019 who beat 7 times Title Holders, Flying Eagles of Nigeria in the Group A opening match.
They are now sure of a fourth appearance at the World Cup
In 2015 at the world cup, Senegal lost 0-5 to Brazil in the Semifinal and lost to Mali at the 3rd Place match 1-3.
Defeated Benin who by rules have to leave Egypt after 48 hours only won the Bronze in 2005.
Hippos of Uganda will play Nigeria at 6pm in the 2nd Quarterfinals. Tomorrow Friday, Scorpions of Gambia will meet debutantes Southern Sudan at 1500 hours whose winner will play winner of Nigeria vs Uganda in the Semis. Congo versus Tunisia 4th quarterfinal is on Friday at 1800 hours.
