Group A is complete at the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and it was Senegal who confirmed the title of group winners on Friday with a routine 3-0 victory over Somalia. An own goal inside ten minutes was followed by a clever first half strike from Senegal star Amara Diouf and a late penalty kick Yaya Dieme confirmed a perfect nine points from three matches. Hosts and group runners-up Algeria join Senegal in the quarterfinals along with third placed Republic of Congo after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Friday’s other match played simultaneously.
Senegal continued to show they are the favorites to win the competition with a dominating performance against Somalia. Diouf’s corner kick found Omar Sall for a header that deflected in for an own goal off Said Momamed Abdi in the 8th minute, then Diouf produced a moment of magical dribbling on the right wing before finishing past goalkeeper Abdikadir Ali Mohamed. Dieme was fouled inside the Somali penalty area in the final minutes and the product of Diambars got up to convert the spot kick as Senegal finishes Group A play with seven goals scored and zero conceded.
Algeria had a difficult time against Republic of Congo who needed a win or a draw and fought hard for the result. The hosts were in control for most of the match but Congolese goalkeeper Chelcy Bonazebi made an incredible save in the 58th minute before Joseph Archange Ndzoukou put the Devils into a surprise lead eight minutes later. Algeria fought back to get a point through star forward Moslem Anatouf who joined Amara Diouf with three goals in the competition after he arrived at the far post to finish from Djibril Bahlouli’s low cross.
Highlights from both matches are below.
Scores
Algeria 1-1 Republic of Congo
Senegal 2-0 Somalia
Highlights
Senegal 3-0 Somalia
Algeria 1-1 Republic of Congo
