Senegal and Nigeria qualified for the semis of the TotalEnergies U20 AFCON on March 2, 2023 in quarter-final bouts against Benin and Uganda.
The two teams didn't just progress to the next round of the competition, but obtained tickets for the U20 FIFA World Cup billed May, later this year.
The first team that qualified on Thursday was Senegal, after the tournament's fancied team eliminated Benin courtesy a 1-0 scoreline at the Cairo International Stadium.
After a clean sweep in the group stage, the pals of Malick Daf encountered more difficulties than expected against Benin, who ended 3rd in group C in the West African derby.
The first period proved to tight and without any shots on target on either side.
However, the teams stepped foot on the gas pedal upon return from the locker room and Dynamo Kiev striker Samba Diallo took advantage of an incredible through ball on a free kick from Lamine Camara to open the scoring with a diving header at close range. The game went on to finish one-nil.
📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇸🇳 1-0 🇧🇯
Samba Diallo’s diving header earns Senegal the ticket to the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 semi-finals and a place in the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup 🦁 @Fsfofficielle | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/NUFsSbMVis
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) March 2, 2023
Nigeria followed suit as they equally qualified for the semi-finals after a narrow victory against Uganda on Thursday evening at the Suez Canal Stadium.
The Flying Eagles passed the round of the quarter-finals courtesy an own goal from Ibrahim Juma in the 30th minute, enough to seal victory for Nigeria.
Nigeria and Senegal are therefore automatically qualified for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, scheduled for May 20 to June 11, 2023 in Indonesia.
📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇺🇬 0-1 🇳🇬
The Flying Eagles reach the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 semi-finals at the expense of 2021 finalists 🦅 @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/cHNFaO0rf8
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) March 2, 2023
