2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations hosts Egypt had one last opportunity to give themselves points to advance from Group A but the Young Pharaohs were eliminated after a devastating 4-0 defeat to group winners Senegal on Saturday. Nigeria joined Senegal in advancing to the quarterfinals, finishing in second place after defeating Mozambique 2-0. Egypt and Mozambique end their participations with one point each and zero goals scored, making it impossible for either of them to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Egypt showed some signs of being able to compete early on against tournament favorites Senegal but Les Lionceaux gradually gained control of the match, setting the scene for a second half meltdown from the Young Pharaohs. The opening goal came just before the hour mark when left back Mbaye Ndiaye had plenty of time to line up a cross to the far post where Pape Demba Diop met the ball with a diving header past Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Makhlouf.
The Egyptian defense gifted Senegal’s second in the 69th minute when Omar Fayed attempted to head back to Makhlouf and Ibou Sané seized on the error to fire low past the goalkeeper. A dejected Egyptian team conceded two more goals from corner kicks, failing to pick up Diop for his 73rd minute headed goal from a Lamine Camara service. Three minutes later another corner from Camara was headed off the post by Papa Diallo and the ball rebounded back to Diop for an easy headed finish from close range.
Nigeria had little trouble navigating their way past Mozambique for a 2-0 victory in Group A’s other match. The Flying Eagles profited from two brilliant long range strikes that left Mozambique goalkeeper Kimiss Zavala helpless to intervene, the first arriving from a 33rd minute swerving strike by Samson Lawal in the 33rd minute. Nigeria pulled away in the 41st minute after Solomona Agbalaka won the ball on the left wing and passed to Ibrahim Muhammad, who cut inside and unleashed a blast from twenty-five yards out that is certainly a candidate for Goal of the Tournament.
Highlights from both of Saturday’s games are below.
Senegal 4-0 Egypt
Nigeria 2-0 Mozambique
