Senegal Defeat Gambia To Lift Its 1st-ever U-20 AFCON Trophy
Senegal’s Young Teranga Lions defeated the Gambia team 2-0 on Saturday at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt, to win the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship for the first time in their history.
The team only needed goals from forward Sulaymane Faye and midfielder Mamadou Camara to defeat their Neighboring neighbors.
The Senegalese team entered the championship match on Saturday with a perfect record, winning every game without giving up a goal.
The Young Teranga Lions, who placed second in 2015, 2017 and 2019, were competing in their fourth Under-20 AFCON championship game.
The Malick Daf-coached team has achieved continental success in the past year, following in the footsteps of the senior Teranga Lions, the beach soccer national team, and the home-based national team.
The Young Teranga Lions got off to a stronger start against the Young Scorpions at the Cairo International Stadium because to their aggressive style of play.
Sulaymane Faye’s header from a cross down the right channel gave the Young Teranga Lions the lead six minutes in.
Faye was able to head into an open goal because the Gambian defense failed to stop Pape Diallo’s cross.
The Young Scorpions attempted to reenter the game after the break but were unable to get past the Senegalese defense.
Ten minutes after the break, Senegal increased their lead thanks to midfielder Mamadou Camara, who beat the defenseless Pa Ebou Dampha by guiding a corner goal.
Lamine Camara and Mamadou Camara were in charge for Malick Daf’s team as the Young Teranga Lions dominated possession in the opening moments of the second half.
With the addition of Mansour Mbye and Muhamed Sawaneh in place of Bailo Bah and Modou Marong, The Gambia coach Abdoulie Bojang gave the underperforming Young Scorpions assault greater firepower.
The Young Scorpions’ post was even struck by a fierce shot from substitute Mouhamed Gueye in stoppage time as Senegal’s captain Samba Diallo twice came close to increasing his team’s lead.
The Senegalese persisted in their objectives, which ultimately led to their first-ever victory in this category.
Recall that in the third-place game, the Flying Eagles defeated The Young Carthage of Tunisia 4-0.
Africa will be represented by the four semifinalists in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Indonesia between May 20 and June 11.
