AFCON U-17: Senegal, Morocco secure maiden U17 World Cup tickets after advancing to the semifinals
Senegal have booked Africa’s first ticket to the FIFA World Cup after running riot to beat south Africa 5-0 in the quarter final of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Wednesday evening.
A pair of first half own goals by each of South Africa’s central defenders followed up by Mamadou Sadio’s goal and skipper Amara Diouf’s brace saw the Teranga Cubs continue with their impressive performance in the competition.
This is the first time ever that Senegal have progressed beyond the group stages of the U17 AFCON And by extension, the first time they have ever qualified for the World Cup.
Senegal scored three goals in seven minutes late in the first half to completely break down a spirited fight from South Africa.
Waylon Renecke was unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net in the 36th minute as he tried to cut out a headed ball just inside the six yard box.
Three minutes later, his central defense partner, skipper Benjamin Wallis, also put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear out after the keeper had spilled a freekick from Diouf.
Senegal made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute when Sadio scored with a brilliant half volley from the edge of the box after Abdou Aziz Fall had teed up the ball for him.
With a 3-0 cushion at halftime and a complete dominance that had seen South Africa fail to land a ball on target, the West Africans had the job half done.
In the second half, they needed just nine minutes to get their fourth, though it had to be given by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) which was being used at the tournament for the first time.
A run by Omar Sall on the left caught the South African backline off balance, the latter squaring for Diouf to slam home from inside the box. He had initially been flagged offside, but upon review, the VAR gave the goal.
In the 71st minute, Diouf who had enjoyed a brilliant performance capped it off with a brace when he headed home at the backpost after a brilliant cross from Ibrahima Diallo found his perfect run.
With a 5-0 cushion, South Africa’s fighting spirit was hugely dented, and Senegal eased through the remaining minutes with utter dominance.
Zakaria Ouazane of Morocco is congratulated for scoring the opening goal during the 2023 Under 17 African Cup of Nations Quarterfinal match between Morocco and Algeria held at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine
Zakaria Ouazane scored a goal in either half with Adam Chakir adding a late third as Morocco beat hosts Algeria 3-0 to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Algeria enjoyed brilliant support with the Constantine fans filling the stadium to the rafters and raising their voices to deafening decibels, but it was a tactically disciplined Moroccan side that went off with victory and a place in the last four.
Ouazane broke the deadlock after 28 minutes when he headed into the bottom right after a cross from Ayman Ennair. The latter had done well to pickpocket Younes Badani of the ball on the right before curling in a cross for the lanky Ouazane to nod home.
Before the goal, it had been a tightly contested duel in the North African derby. Algeria had the only shot on target thus far, Shain Chetioui having a curling freekick fly straight to the keeper’s arms.
Morocco’s best chance before their goal was in the 20th minute when Chakir drove a shot from almost 35 yards out and it dinked inches over the bar.
After scoring, Morocco played with more confidence, keeping possession and moving up and down the field as a block. They were however almost caught on the counter in the 35th minute.
From a corner, the ball was cleared to Moselm Anatouf’s path, the latter heading it into the run of strike partner Ziad Mohamed.
However, Morocco keeper Taha Benrhozil was quick off his line, making his body big at the edge of the box and blocking the effort one on one.
At the stroke of halftime, Anatouf who had been kept quiet all game had a sniff at goal with a shot on the turn, but the keeper made a good save.
In the second half, Morocco needed just 12 minutes to double their tally, Abdel Hamid Maali sending Ouazane through with a peach of a ball, the latter running between the two central defenders to shoot low for his brace.
With two goals and a mountain to climb, Algeria tried to find new solutions and they pulled out midfielder Younes Benali for forward Djibril Bahlouli to spice up things upfront.
But, they couldn’t create much with their star man Anatouf kept in close guard by Abdelhamid AIt Boudlal whenever he moved.
Morocco put the icing on the cake and sent the stadium into pindrop silence with the third goal in the 86th minute, Chakir shooting brilliantly on the half volley from a cross on the right.
The goal killed off the Algerian fight as they saw no way of turning the game around with four minutes of regulation time and an additional five.
