U17 AFCON: Senegal stumbles on entry, Algeria comes back from a long way
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All original articlesThe first day of the U17 AFCON group stages continued on Thursday in Morocco with mixed fortunes for the favourites. If Mali was held in check by a strong Angolan team, Senegal bit the dust against South Africa. Tanzania took the lead in Group C, while Algeria and Ghana were neutralized at the end of a stunning scenario.
Group C: Tanzania flies away, Mali stumbles on a bone
Considered as one of the top favorites of the competition after its final in 2025, Mali missed its entry into the competition at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat. Facing a rigorous Angola team for its return on the continental scene, the Aiglonnets dominated without ever finding the net (0-0).
The men of Demba Mamadou Traoré will be able to harbor regrets, as they lacked lucidity in the last gesture. Namory Coumaré, with a soft shot (39'), then Abdoulaye Touré, alone against the goal at the end of the match (79'), were stopped by an imperial Gelson Dala in the goals of Palancas Negras. The Angolan goalkeeper will also finish with the trophy of Man of the match; A score of zero and virgin that does not make business for Malians.
In the group’s other match, Tanzania did not go into detail against Mozambique (3-0). The Junior Serengeti Stars delivered a clinical performance, relying on quick transitions to punish adverse defensive errors. With this net success, Tanzania takes the lead of Group C alone and already shows its ambitions for the rest of the tournament.
Group D: Senegal overthrown, Algeria nears hold-up
The thunderclap of the day came from Salé, where Senegal fell against South Africa (1-2). However, the Cubs thought they had done the hardest by opening the scoring just before the break thanks to Cheikh Thior from a corner (44th).
But the return from the locker room was fatal to Lamine Sané’s players. In the 48th minute, Inganathi Simama took advantage of a defensive float to equalize (1-1). Stunned, the Senegalese went down a few minutes later on a stroke of luck: the unfortunate Cheikh Thior, scorer in the first half, cheated his own goalkeeper by deflecting the ball into his net (1-2, 55').
Finally, the poster between Algeria and Ghana has kept all its promises (2-2). The Black Starlets started hard, leading 2-0 after only ten minutes thanks to goals from Yao (3rd) and Gyamfi (10th). We thought then the lost Algerians, but the Fennecs showed a mind of steel to show a completely different face at the return from the locker room.
In the second half, Benali reduced the score (57') before Zaidi equalised immediately afterwards (60'), taking advantage of a completely disorganized Ghanaian defence. The Algerians even had the opportunity to achieve a perfect hold-up, but Grini missed his penalty in the 67th minute. A split of the points that leaves everyone alive in this group of death.
Standings
Group C: 1. Tanzania (3 pts), 2. Mali (1 pt), 3. Angola (1 pt), 4. Mozambique (0 pt).
Group D: 1. South Africa (3 pts), 2. Algeria (1 pt), 3. Ghana (1 pt), 4. Senegal (0 pt).