As Senegal breezes into the Knockout stage

By Edwin Emeanua-Editor

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles finally registered points at the 2023 U-20 Africa Nations cup championship in Egypt after beating the host nation 1-0 in a game in which the Nigerians were clearly, lack-lustered in the first half.

Meanwhile, Senegal effortlessly breezed into the knockout stage from Group A of the ongoing CAF U-20 Nations Cup in Egypt, with a convincing 3-0 win over Mozambique at the Cairo International Stadium.

Egypt’s Young Pharoahs dominated coach Ladan Bosso’s Flying Eagles in the opening half in which the Nigerians found it hard to string their passes together for a cohesive play.

However, the Nigerians became purposeful in the second half, taking the fight to their hosts. Chinonso Solomon Agbalaka headed Nigeria into the lead in the 71st minute of play off a well squared corner kick.

The Nigerian youngsters thereafter defended like trojans fending off the hosts. Egypt must now go all out to win their final group game to progress, or watch the rest of the competition as bystanders.

Nigeria’s last group game comes up on Saturday when the Flying Eagles are billed to tackle Mozambique, and current group leaders, Senegal encounters the host nation, Egypt, at the same venue.

The Flying Eagles only have half of their legs through to the knockout stage and the other facing an early exit from the tournament, which also serves as the qualifying play for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

In the Group’s first game today, Papa Amadou Diallo opened the scoring for Senegal in the second minute of injury time of the first half in which the winners completely enforced total dominance over the opponents.

Papa Demba Diop then added the second goal in the 53rd minute of the tie, with Papa Diallo completing his brace of goals in the 85th minute of the game.

The win took Senegal to two wins from two games after piping Nigeria 1-0 in their group opener last Sunday.

The wins earned the Young Teranga Lions passage to the next round of the tournament, making their final group encounter against Egypt a mere formality.