U-17 AFCON: Tunisia defeat Gambia, pip Senegal to win Group C and qualify for World Cup

Photo Credit: @CAF_Online/X

Tunisia completed an impressive group stage at the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after defeating The Gambia 2-1 on Monday to win Group C. Tunisia join Senegal in qualifying for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals following Monday's results.

Anisse Saidi's second half penalty kick confirmed victory for Tunisia, who edge out Senegal for top spot due to a superior goal difference. An entertaining first half saw both teams come close to scoring on multiple occasions.

However it was the North Africans who struck first at the end of the first half through Angers player Yessing Ben Mahmoud, the eventual Man of the Match. Ben Mahmoud's persistence in the Gambian penalty area resulted in a powerful effort that left Gambia goalkeeper Mbemba Jammeh with no chance.

But Gambia did not go down easily. A dream start to the second half saw the Scorpions score immediately after the kick off with Bisenty Mendy's opportunistic finish over Tunisia keeper Slim Bouaskar.

But the Gambian joy would not last long. Ten minutes later, Tunisia were awarded a penalty kick following a VAR review after a tackle in the penalty area was deemed a foul. San Diego FC player Saidi calmly finished from the spot and Tunisia were able to hold on and qualify for the quarterfinals and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals as Group C winners.

Final Group C Table

	Points
Tunisia*	7
Senegal	7
Gambia	3
Somalia	0

• The top two teams qualify for the quarterfinals and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

• The four third place finishers from all groups qualify for a playoff, from which the two winning teams will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

• *Tunisia finished ahead of Senegal due to a superior goal difference after the teams played to a 0-0 draw in Group C. (Tunisia: +4, Senegal: +3)