Senegal head coach Saliou Dia has dedicated their historic 5-0 win against South Africa in the quarter-finals of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and their qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to compatriots back home.
FULL-TIME! ⏰
A 5-star performance from Senegal as they comfortably beat South Africa ????????#TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/0pbrTzQjIw
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 ???? (@CAF_Online) May 10, 2023
“We are delighted with this victory. I congratulate the players for a job well done. I dedicate this qualification to the people of Senegal and everyone who has worked day and night to see us achieve this great victory,” Dia told CAF website.
“I also encourage the South African team despite this loss. They left a good impression in the tournament and they did the best they could.
“They posed a challenge for us but we were able to apply our game plan well and it worked.”
ON BOARD TO THE #U17FWC ✅
Senegal advance to the 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 semi-finals to secure their place in the U17 @FIFAWorldCup ????
Congratulations, @Fsfofficielle ???? pic.twitter.com/gSKIQfFTRH
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 ???? (@CAF_Online) May 10, 2023
The ex-Senegal international also stated that his side will need to shift their focus to achieving their next target of grabbing a first-ever U-17 AFCON title.
“We are delighted to remain in the tournament and now we will work for the next target which is the title,” he added.
“We will prepare ourselves well for the semi-finals and we know it is going to be tougher because teams now know that we are a tough side. We need to continue remaining patient,” Dia concluded.
Senegal will face the winner of the quarter-final match between Nigeriaand Burkina Faso on Sunday, May 14 in Constantine.
