U20 AFCON: Gambia v Senegal, evenly matched
U20 AFCON: Gambia v Senegal, evenly matched. The two sides meet on Saturday 11 March at 17:00 GMT at Cairo International Stadium.
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Senegal v Gambia is likely to be the best game of the U20 AFCON. A heavyweight clash between two neighbours, and two evenly matched sides. Football fans are in for a tight contest. Senegal start with a slight edge. The Lionceaux have the best attack in the tournament with 12 goals, but Gambia are right behind them with 10. The Lionceaux got the better of their neighbours at the UFOA-A U20 tournament (1-0), thanks to a goal from captain Samba Diallo.
A first-time final
Neither Senegal nor Gambia have ever lifted the U20 AFCON trophy. Senegal have fallen short three times: the Lionceaux lost three consecutive finals, in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Malick Daf could become the third Senegalese coach to win a continental trophy, after Aliou Cissé (AFCON) and Pape Thiaw (CHAN). Third at the last edition in Mauritania, Gambia will try to give their country its first continental trophy.
Gambia and Senegal, near-identical runs
Senegal and Gambia have had almost the same path in this U20 AFCON. Neither side has conceded a goal. Both beat Nigeria, the best nation in this age category, by the same score (1-0): Gambia in the semi-final, Senegal in the group stage.
THE FINAL STEP BEFORE GLORY! 🏆
🇸🇳 🆚 🇬🇲
GET READY! 😍#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/S37ly5FdMy
— CAF - FR (@caf_online_FR) March 11, 2023
Pape Demba Diop v Adama Bojang, a battle of the marksmen
They are the two top scorers at the U20 AFCON. With 5 goals in as many games, Pape Demba Diop leads the way, including a hat-trick. But his Gambian rival, Adama Bodjang, has four. Like Diop, he has scored a hat-trick. The final could therefore decide the top scorer of this 23rd edition.
Senegal on a roll
Senegal are sweeping all before them. The land of Teranga has already won three continental trophies in the past two years: the Beach Soccer AFCON, the AFCON and the CHAN. The Lionceaux are therefore going for a fourth continental title. But the Gambians are determined to stop their neighbours from landing another one. "Senegal are an extraordinary team, but so are we. They are winning everything at the moment. We have to stop them on 11 March," said Abdoulie Bojang after his side's semi-final win over Nigeria. Kick-off is at 17:00 GMT.