By Victor Kanayo
Senegal continued their fiery tale dominance in the ongoing 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations with 5-0 whipping of South Africa’s Amajimbos in the first quarter-final clash of the competition taking place in Algeria.
The score line is the highest the tournament has so far produced.
Organisers and continental football body, CAF, had announced introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at this stage of the competition.
Sensational Senegal
Also, with the outcome of the encounter, Senegal, a country that has won every football competition they took part in the past year, remain the only team with a clean slate in the current U17 continental championship.
The West Africa side will now await the winner between Nigeria and Burkina Faso in the other quarter-final set-up on Thursday to know their semi-final opponent.
How Senegal Soared Against South Africa
The Senegalese piled so much pressure on the South Africans that the first two goals of the match were own goals conceded within three minutes.
British born South African, Waylon Renecke, who plays for Norwich U18 team as centre back conceded the first own goal in the 36th minute and his co-centre back defender, Benjamin Wallis, conceded the second goal in the 39th minute.
Mamadou Sadio scored the 3rd goal through Abdou Fall in the 44th minute before the break.
Graceful Amara Diouf scored a brace meaning to cap the mauling of sorts.
How both Nations Fared Before Quarter-final Berth
Senegal and South Africa had never met at this category, but records in this tournament had shown Senegal was above South Africa.
Senegal came from the group stages with a clean slate not conceding a single goal but scoring seven goals.
The Lions hit Congo 1-0; hosts Algeria 3-0 and bashed debutants Somalia by same margin. That was how the country emerged the only nation with full points of nine in the tournament at the group stages.
South Africa scored five goals and conceded seven with only three points. South Africa lost to Morocco 0-2; narrowly beat fellow COSAFA mate Zambia 3-2 and bowed to Nigeria 2-3 after leading at a moment.
The stats also showed a Senegalese superiority at the group stages.
Remaining Last Eight Duel
On Thursday May 11, Mali will face Congo at 19 May in the 1956 Stadium, Annaba.
Same day, Nigeria will slug it out with neighbours Burkina Faso at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers.
The four semi-finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA U17 World Cup later in the year.
