A few months after winning the 2022 African Nations Championship final over Algeria in the country’s capital of Algiers, the Nelson Mandela Stadium played host to another success for Senegal over the hosts in Tuesday’s 3-0 Group A victory at the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. A couple of important first half saves from Senegalese goalkeeper Serigne Diouf set the stage for Amara Diouf to score two goals and assist Senegal’s third as Les Lionceaux secured top spot in the group as well as advancement to the knockout stages. Senegal finish up Group A play against Somalia on Friday and Algeria face the Republic of Congo in their final group stage match.
The two favorites to advance out of the group appeared to be destined for a closely fought match based on the opening half hour. Goalkeeper Diouf did excellently to frustrate the Algerian selection starting with a double save in the 23rd minute that kept Shain Chetioui from opening the scoring. Four minutes later Chetioui had another good chance after stealing the ball deep in Senegalese territory but after slipping past two defenders it was Diouf who was quick off his line to snatch the ball off the foot of the Le Havre forward.
From then on it was domination for the Senegalese. The first warning arrived when Senegal attacker Yaya Diene rose above Algeria keeper Mastias Hammache to meet a corner kick before his header was cleared off the line. Hammache would not escape again just before halftime however when he misjudged a free kick service from Lassana Traoré and Diouf was there to head into the unguarded goal.
The 14-year-old star Diouf doubled his tally from the penalty spot around the hour mark after forward Omar Sall got behind the defense and was tripped up by Hammache, setting up Diouf to send the goalkeeper the wrong way on his spot kick. Algeria lost all confidence by that point and late on it was Diouf who was involved once again when the Génération Foot product won an aerial duel and then drove towards the end line before crossing low for Mamadou Sawane to turn in from close range.
Highlights from the match are below.
