AFCON
MALI, SENEGAL BATTLE FOR FIRST EVER AFRICAN U20 TITLE
A new champion is expected to emerge this Sunday to add to the nine that had won the CAF U20 Nations Cup in the past. Nigeria with seven titles, is the most successful country followed by Egypt with four and Ghana with three titles.
Others like Cameroon, Zambia, Algeria, Morocco, Angola and Congo have each won the title once since the competition was instituted in 1979.
Both Mali and Senegal who play the final match in Niamey, Niger Republic have never won the trophy before.
Mali will take on unbeaten Senegal on Sunday in the final of the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niamey as both side seek for their first U-20 continental glory.
The highly anticipated clash at the Stade General Seyni Kountche will be a repeat of the opening Group B match, which Senegal won 2-0 in Maradi.
Midfielders Dion Lopy and Faly Ndaw scored in the second half to secure Les Lionceaux their first victory of the championship.
Youssouph Dabo’s charges followed that up with another 2-0 victory over 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup champions Ghana to book their place at this year’s U-20s World Cup in Poland.
The confident young lions thrashed Burkina Faso 5-1 before managing a 1-0 semifinal victory over Thabo Senong’s South Africa en route to Sunday’s final.
The Aiglons of Mali despite losing to Senegal in the opening match of Group B in Maradi registered back-to- back 1-0 successes over Burkina Faso and Ghana to qualify for the semifinals.
They had to do it the hard way when facing Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in the last four in Niamey.
Mamadou Traore gave Mali the lead twelve minutes from time but Paschal Durugbor draw level for Nigeria forcing the match to extra time and penalties.
Nigeria missed two spot kicks as Mali converted four of their five kicks to sail through with a 4-3 score line.
Senegal’s coach Youssouph Dabo says the final will not be a repeat of the group encounter which his side won 2-0.
“Facing Mali will be a different match because it is a final. We have beaten them in the first game but I said it after that game that they can go far so I am not surprised to see them in the final,” he insisted.
Mali’s coach Mamoutou Kane admits his side where lucky against Nigeria in the semifinals which he said was exhausting.
“It was a very exhausting match in the head and in the belly. Luck was with us so congratulations and courage to the Nigerian coach.
“For us the goal is achieved we were the first team to have lost and we are today the first to qualify for the final.” Kane told journalist after qualifying for the final.
The two teams will be searching for their first Africa U-20 Cup of Nations triumph with Senegal finishing second in the last two editions.
They narrowly lost to Nigeria 1-0 in 2015 on home soil before going down 2-0 to Zambia in 2017.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
13 November 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier: Osimhen’s 1st goal: Nigeria 1-1 Benin Republic; Referee: Issa Sy of Senegal
14 November 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier: Osimhen’s 23rd goal: Benin Republic 1-1 Nigeria; Referee: Issa Sy of Senegal
Victor Osimhen’s 81st-minute goal against the Benin Republic on Thursday night in Abidjan did not only save the face of the Super Eagles from a possible defeat, it is also a milestone goal.
It was his 23rd goal for Nigeria in 37 appearances. With the goal, he becomes Nigeria’s joint-second all-time top scorer, having matched Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record.
Only Rashidi Yekini with 37 goals scored more. Incidentally, Osimhen opened his scoring for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with Benin Republic in 2019 when he scored his first Nigerian goal, a penalty kick that brought the scoreline to 1-1 in the 45th minute.
Like it was on Thursday 14 November in Abidjan, the 13 November 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic was also refereed by Senegal’s Issa Sy.
What an irony! Libya handed Nigeria AFCON ticket
AFCON
Osimhen saves the face of already qualified Super Eagles as Group D 2nd ticket goes down the wire!
A late goal from Victor Osimhen saved the day for the Super Eagles who forced a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan which had hitherto become Benin Republic’s slaughter ground of visiting teams.
After a ferocious opening by the Super Eagles, the Benin Republic suddenly turned the tide as defender Mohammed Tijani surged forward to beat the Nigerian defence line in the 16th minute.
With the goal, it was the first time that the Super Eagles had conceded in the series and it looked as if Benin had also picked a ticket, moving to a 9-point haul that would have been unassailable by either Rwanda and Libya even if they win their respective last matches on Monday.
As they held on tenaciously to the lead, Victor Osimhen leaped high in between two Beninese defenders to nod in a cross from Simon Moses from the left flank.
That changed the narrative as Benin will now have to play hard to pick a qualification ticket on Monday when they meet Libya.
But it is still advantage for Benin Republic owing to their better goal difference. Even if they are beaten by Libya and tie at seven points apiece, Libya will need a heavy scoreline to wipe off their current deficit of four.
The second ticket from Group D is still open to the trio of Benin, Rwanda and Libya. But it is advantageous Benin. All could end up with seven points apiece if Libya beat Benin Republic and Rwanda beat Nigeria in Uyo.
The matchday 4 of Libya and Nigeria was akin to a war as the Super Eagles were literally held hostage for 20 hours at an abandoned airport. The treatment meted to the Super Eagles made it impossible for the match to go on.
The Libyan actions generated global outrage. The Confederation of Africa (CAF) consequently awarded the match to Nigeria.
Paradoxically, the award and Libya’s win over Rwanda have taken a lot of burden off the Super Eagles as they pick qualification tickets, even with two matches to spare. The worst-case scenario for them is to place second on the Group D log.
Libya snatched a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, thanks to a late strike by Fahd Saad Mohamed.
The game was closely contested, with both sides creating chances but struggling to find the back of the net.
Rwanda’s Innocent Nshuti came close on several occasions, but Libyan goalkeeper Bader Hassan stood firm.
The win pushed Libya up to four points, although they remain at the bottom of Group D, while Rwanda stays in third with five points
Against Benin and officiated by Issa Sy, Osimhen equals Segun Odegbami’s feat
Osimhen saves the face of already qualified Super Eagles as Group D 2nd ticket goes down the wire!
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