CAIRO — Senegal and Gambia qualified for the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The final will be played on Saturday, March 11 at 17:00 GMT at the Cairo International Stadium.
Senegal stuns Tunisia 3-0
Lamine Camara scored a double to help Senegal defeating Tunisia 3-0 in the Ismailia Stadium.
The Teranga Cubs won the semi-final match emphatically after beating the Young Carthage Eagles at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium to secure their place in the final.
Two goals from new FC Metz recruit Camara and a sumptuous strike by Pape Diop was enough to send Senegal to their AFCON U-20 final.
The three-time runners-up will face Gambia in the final.
Senegal started brightly with captain Samba Diallo operating down the left channel while Mamadou Camara rejoined Lamine Camara in the heart of defense.
Senegal broke the deadlock through Zulte Waregem starlet Pape Diop’s ferocious effort from distance after seven minutes.
The 19-year-old forward latched onto Sulaymane Faye’s squared pass before beating Raed Gazzeh with a spectacular finish to register his fifth goal of the U-20 AFCON in Egypt.
The Young Carthage Eagles grew into the match as they tried to weather the early Senegal storm at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia.
Mohamed Wael Derbali forced a save from the towering Senegal custodian Landing Badji. The Olympique de Beja midfielder volleyed his rebound straight into the gloves of Badji.
The Young Teranga Lions upped the ante and came close through defender Seydou Sano’s long range drive which Raed Gazzeh pushed away for a corner.
The West Africans doubled their lead on 17 minutes through 2022 African Nations Championship star Lamine Camara.
The former Generation Foot graduate profited from his relentless press in the Carthage Eagles area which forced Zinedine Sassi to under-hit his backpass before sliding to make it 2-0.
Camara saw his well drilled low effort on the edge of the Tunisian box turned for a corner before Raed Gazzeh produced another top class save to deny Samba Diallo from giving Senegal a three goal lead.
Adel Sellimi’s side should have pulled a goal back on the half hour mark when Ali Saoudi headed Mohamed Dhaoui’s freekick just wide off Landing Badji’s far post.
Malick Daf’s side held onto their two goal lead going into the break as they moved closer to their fourth appearance in the U-20 AFCON final.
Camara made it 3-0 for Senegal with a close range effort following successive saves by Raed Gazzeh to deny Samba Diallo.
Ten-man Gambia beats Nigeria
Ten-man Gambia sealed their placed in the final after beating giants Nigeria 1-0 in Cairo.
The Young Scorpions talisman Adama Bojang scored the lone goal which secured Gambia their historic qualification to the final.
Twice bronze medallist (2007 and 2021), Gambia is already doing better by qualifying for the final and will face its neighbour Senegal to try to win the gold medal for the first time.
The Baby Scorpions will face Malick Daf’s Senegal in what will be the repeat of the WAFU-A qualifying tournament in Mauritania which Senegal won courtesy of Samba Diallo’s diving header.
The 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is Gambia’s fourth participation and they have qualified to the semi-finals in three of the four tournaments.
The Baby Scorpions held on to secure their slim victory despite defender Haruna Njie received his marching orders in the 90th minute for a second yellow card of the semi-final clash.
Gambia scored against the run of play when Ebrima Singhateh blocked a misplaced pass towards the path of Adama Bojang who slotted past the helpless Chijioke Aniagboso after seven minutes.
Abdoulie Bojang’s Young Scorpions held on to go into the break with the narrow lead against the Flying Eagles who dominated possession but couldn’t find a way past the solid defense.
Goalkeeper Pa Ebou Dampha who was named Man of the Match played a key role in the historic victory for The Gambia.
The WAA Banjul FC custodian was dominant inside his area winning all aerial balls against the Flying Eagles.
The busy goalkeeper conceded a penalty five minutes from time when his challenge impeded Ahmed Abdullahi.
Abdullahi missed the spot kick as it came off the post and the Young Scorpions survived to sail through to their first ever U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Gambia ended the match at ten following the dismissal of Haruna Rasid Njie in the 89th minute for an unsportsmanlike gesture.
Gambia played the last minutes of the match with ten men following Rashid Njie’s second booking.
