The Senegal U-17 national team fought their way back as they came from a goal down to defeat Morocco 2-1 in the final of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algiers on Friday night.
Both teams made it to the final for the very time after their respective penalty shootout victories over Burkina Faso and Mali in the semi-finals.
The game against the Burkinabe was the first time the Teranga Cubs had conceded in the tournament and they went behind in Friday’s final at the Nelson Mandela Stadium after captain Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal sent in a powerful header from Abdel Maali’s corner in the 13th minute.
The scoreline remained that way until the 80th minute when Senegal were presented with a penalty and Amara Diouf – the tournament’s new all-time top scorer that overtook Victor Osimhen’s record – converted cooly for his sixth goal in Algeria.
The moment of glory came just three minutes later when Mamadou Sawane headed the ball home from Diouf’s corner.
A sight we are getting used to ????
???????? THE CHAMPIONS ???? #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 pic.twitter.com/8DqcMkqjHE
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 ???? (@CAF_Online) May 20, 2023
Senegal’s tournament triumph is the fifth straight success for country after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations, Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, African Nations Championship and U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, all in the space of one year.
THE BEST OF THE BEST ????
Souleymane Alio is the TotalEnergies Man of the Competition ???? #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/dbvfDxFLgd
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 ???? (@CAF_Online) May 19, 2023
Morocco won the Fair Play award while for the individual awards, Amara Diouf was the Golden Boot winner, Senegal’s goalkeeper Serigne Diouf was the Golden Glove recipient and Burkina Faso’s Soulaymane Alio was the Golden Ball winner as the tournament’s best player.
Morocco manager, Said Chiba was awarded with the Best Coach of the tournament.
