U17 AFCON: Senegal survive scare to reach final
Senegal reach the final of the U17 AFCON by beating Burkina Faso in a penalty shootout
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The match finished 1-1, scant reward for Burkina Faso's Etalons, who dominated in every department. The Burkinabè controlled the first 15 minutes, were more aggressive, won every duel and monopolised possession. Aboubakar Camara had the first chance, narrowly missing the opener in the 11th minute when he could not latch onto a through ball.
Against the run of play, Senegal scored with their first attack through Abdou Aziz Fall (16th). After a cut-back led to shots that the Etalons goalkeeper saved 2 times, the third attempt from just outside the box went in. The Lionceaux were clinical. The goal freed up the Senegalese, who had probably been inhibited by the occasion early on. But it was Burkina Faso who looked the more dangerous side. Unluckily for them, most of their efforts went just past Diouf's goal.
Read more on the same subject: U17 AFCON: results and full schedule
2nd half: Burkina Faso attack, Senegal defend, and the equaliser
Senegal could in fact have knocked the stuffing out of Burkina Faso straight after the restart. From a cross that caused a bit of a scramble, a Senegalese shot was stopped by Sokondou's hand (46th). The referee awarded Senegal a penalty. Amara Diouf, who stepped up to take it, missed the chance to score his 6th goal of the tournament when he hit the post.
The match then turned into one-way traffic in favour of the Burkinabè, who laid siege to the Senegalese half. The Senegalese forwards made no difference on their rare touches. What had been feared happened in the 83rd minute. Burkina Faso equalised with a long-range shot from Ouédraogo after a free-kick was parried. The combative Senegalese defence delayed for as long as possible a goal that looked inevitable given the pressure on the Lionceaux's area. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. On to penalties.
Senegal won 5-4 in a nail-biting shootout, in which Burkinabé final taker Souleymane Alio, the standout player, missed when his equalising effort hit the crossbar.
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