After winning the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt in March, Senegal struggled to replicate their impressive team effort at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina as they exit the tournament in the group stage.
The Young Teranga Lions are the first and only African nation to be eliminated in the first round with the Gambia, Nigeria and Tunisia through to the round of 16.
Malick Daf’s boys managed two draws against Israel and Colombia after suffering a 1-0 loss to Japan.
Afrosport has a look at the factors behind Senegal’s disappointing outing in Argentina.
Absence of key players
Senegal were without goalkeeper Landing Badji who won the Best Goalkeeper award at the AFCON U20, Lamine Camara who won the Player of the Tournament and midfield maestro Papa Diallo.
Bandji was forced to withdraw just before the start of the U20 World Cup after suffering a thigh injury in the national team camp while the duo of Camara and Diallo were not released by French club Metz in their hunt for Ligue 1 promotion.
Lack of preparation
Housed in Group C against Asian, European and South American countries, Senegal were not involved in any pre-tournament friendly with any country from those regions.
The Young Teranga Lions only played the United States of America in a friendly match that ended in a 2-1 defeat. It was indeed a shamble preparation after lifting the AFCON U20 in Cairo.
Bandji’s influence between the sticks
Senegal played six matches in their victorious Africa U-20 Cup of Nations outing without conceding a single goal. Landing Bandji was the man in goal and he was imperious with his talent for big occasions.
However, Bandji’s injury created a void in Daf’s team and Mamour Ndiaye was called up but the 17-year-old was not prepared for the task at hand as he conceded three goals in three games.
Toothless attack
Unlike the AFCON U20 where they scored 14 goals in six matches, Senegal’s attacking play was ineffective at the U20 World Cup as they managed to score just two goals in three games.
All the six forwards that travelled to Argentina did not find the back of the net, with Malick Daf having to rely on midfielders Mamadou Camara and Pape Diop to score the country’s goals at the U20 World Cup.
