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Tag: Senegal

  • WAFCON 2022: Senegal, Morocco qualify for quarter-final

    WAFCON 2022: Senegal, Morocco qualify for quarter-final

    WAFCON host Morocco and Senegal female national teams have  booked their places  in the quarter-finals of the ongoing  2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

    Morocco defeated Uganda by 3-1 while the Senegal pipped Burkina Faso by 1-0 in Rabat to progress to the quarter -finals of the tournament.

    Both Morocco and Senegal will clash  on Friday to decide who will top  group A.

    Second round of games will be decided in Group B on Wednesday, with leaders Tunisia facing Uganda and Cameroon battling Togo.

    And on Thursday it will be the turn of Group C in the second fixtures with champions Nigeria facing Botswana and South Africa and Burundi tackling each other.

    Super Falcons of Nigeria  are the defending champions and are aiming to retain the title after winning it  9 times in 11 editions.

     

  • Sunday Oliseh reveals African player he loves to watch

    Former Nigeria captain and defensive Midfielder Sunday Oliseh has listed Senegal forward Sadio Mane as one of the World’s most influential players of all time.

    Oliseh  also added that he loves to watch him play.

    Oliseh mentioned this after Mane’s hat trick against Republic du Benin in a 3-1 whitewash of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    The Liverpool star scored twice in the first half and added another after the break in their Group L opener at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade.

    Mane’s hat-trick saw him overtake  Henri Camara to become the player with the highest num er goals in history for Senegal.

    He has scored 32 goals, three more than Camara, who represented the West Africans between 1999 and 2008 and managed 99 appearances.

    Oliseh tweeted: “I love watching him play.

    “Simply Africa’s and arguably, one of the world’s current most influential footballers.”

  • Penalty kick heartbreak for Salah as Senegal advance, Cameroon stun hosts Algeria

    Penalty kick heartbreak for Salah as Senegal advance, Cameroon stun hosts Algeria

    There was heartbreak for Mohamed Salah and the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday as they suffered another dramatic penalty kick shootout defeat to Senegal.

    The result meant they lost out on qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup billed for Qatar in November and December.

    Salah’s Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane sent Senegal through with the winning penalty kick in the shootout victory after the Egyptian missed his effort.

    Hosts Senegal had recovered from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Egypt by the same margin at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Dakar.

    Salah, with dozens of laser pens seemingly pointing at his face, fired Egypt’s first penalty kick of the shootout over the bar.

    Mostafa Mohamed later failed with the visitors’ fourth kick, allowing Mane to slam his penalty kick past Mohamed El Shenawy and seal Senegal’s progress.

    It was a repeat of the west African side’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title triumph against Egypt in Cameroon last February.

    There was stunning late drama in Bilda as Karl Toko Ekambi scored late in extra time to seal a 2-1 win for visitors Cameroon against Algeria.

    The Indomitable Lions have now progressed to Qatar via away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

    Algeria thought they had sealed a place at the World Cup when Ahmed Touba cancelled out Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s opener with two minutes remaining in extra time.

    But there was just enough time left for Ekambi to seal the most dramatic of victories.

    Morocco also booked their place in Friday’s World Cup draw with an emphatic 4-1 win over Democratic Republic of Congo.

    A brace from Azzedine Ounahi, and goals from Tarik Tissoudali and Achraf Hakimi, sealed a 5-2 aggregate win over DR Congo, who scored a late consolation through Ben Malango.

    Meanwhile, a 0-0 draw for Tunisia against Mali was enough to see the former seal their own place in Qatar after they managed a 1-0 win in the first leg.

  • Scoreline not a true reflection of Egypt versus Senegal game – Cisse

    Scoreline not a true reflection of Egypt versus Senegal game – Cisse

    Senegal’s coach, Aliou Cisse, believes his side’s defeat by Egypt in the first leg of their 2022 World Cup playoff pairing is not an accurate reflection of the game.

    Cisse is confident they will defeat the Pharaohs on Tuesday to qualify for the tournament in Qatar, in spite of the 1-0 loss at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.

    The result was a revenge for the Egyptians who lost on penalty kicks to Senegal in the final match of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon last month.

    Saliou Ciss scored into his own net just four minutes in, as the Egyptians took a massive lead which they jealously guarded ahead of Tuesday’s second leg.

    The ball came off the crossbar and ricocheted off Ciss’ feet into his own net after Mohamed Salah had chipped onrushing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

    Senegal surged forward for the equaliser but Sadio Mane’s effort in the 37th minute went just over the bar.

    The Liverpool ace provided for Famara Diedhiou in the second half just at the edge of the penalty box but the latter fluffed the chance.

    Egypt then defended resolutely to preserve the lead.

    Cisse believes they must maintain their composure in the second leg on Tuesday to convert all their chances to qualify for the World Cup.

    “The Senegal team must keep all its focus and calm for the return match in spite of the 1-0 defeat recorded against Egypt, because it does not reflect the state of play.

    “This must allow us to be confident for the qualification to the World Cup,” Cissé had said after the match.

    “We have to stay calm and work to improve our efficiency. That’s what was missing in tonight’s (Friday’s) game,” the Teranga Lions coach said at a press conference.

    “Egypt only scored on their only chance of the match and we just have to work to be more effective in both legs.

    The Senegal coach was happy with the performance of his players at Cairo International Stadium but stressed the need to convert their chances in the second leg.

    He insisted this was necessary to achieve their vision of playing at the World Cup later this year.

    “I am satisfied with the game produced by the players, but we must focus on efficiency for the second leg,” the former international defender said.

    “For now, nothing is lost, we have a second leg to play at home, and we have to work with a view to reversing the result.

    “We are confident in our capabilities. We are going to improve and seek the victory that will qualify us for the World Cup,” added the Senegal coach.

    Senegal will host the second leg of the play-off for the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday

  • Falconets earn World Cup ticket after trouncing Senegal 7-2 aggregate

    Falconets earn World Cup ticket after trouncing Senegal 7-2 aggregate

    Nigeria’s national under-20 women football team on Saturday in Benin City earned a ticket to the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

    The Falconets achieved this after a comfortable 4-1 win over their counterparts from Senegal, for a 7-2 aggregate victory, after having won the first leg tie 3-1 away.

    Flourish Sebastine who scored a hat-trick during the first leg at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies two weeks ago was again the cynosure of all eyes.

    She scored a brace in the eighth and 19th minutes at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    Elegant midfielder Esther Onyenezide made it three on 25 minutes after converting from the penalty kick spot.

    However, just as they did at home in Senegal, the Young Lionesses of Teranga scored from the penalty kick spot as well, after one of their strikers was upended in the Nigerian penalty box.

    In the second half, the Falconets sat comfortably on the game and allowed it run their way, taking things easy and cutting off the few onslaughts of the visitors.

    Just before the final whistle by Eswatini referee Letticia Viana, Joy Jerry made it four for the two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up.

    The result sends the Falconets straight to the World Cup finals holding from Aug. 10 to Aug. 28 in Costa Rica.

  • FIFA World Cup playoff: Odd goal separates Egypt, Senegal as Tunisia win

    FIFA World Cup playoff: Odd goal separates Egypt, Senegal as Tunisia win

    A fourth-minute own goal by Senegal’s Saliou Ciss was enough to give Egypt a 1-0 win in the first leg of their World Cup play-off in Cairo.

    Ciss was incredibly unlucky when a shot from Mohamed Salah was pushed on to the bar by Edouard Mendy before striking the defender and going into the net.

    The game was billed as a rerun of the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, which was won by Senegal on penalty kicks after the match ended 0-0.

    To an extent it captured the cagey nature of that occasion back in February, with few chances of significance created by either side.

    The game featured Liverpool’s two star strikers Salah and Sadio Mane, but neither of them had stellar games.

    Nevertheless, on a day dominated by north African teams —— Algeria and Tunisia also won 1-0, albeit away, and Morocco got an away goal in a draw in DR Congo.

    Ciss’s unfortunate moment meant Egypt matched the achievements of their continental neighbours.

    The teams meet again in the second leg on Tuesday, with the winners qualifying for the Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 tournament in Qatar.

    In other play-off first leg ties played on Friday, Morocco held DR Congo to a 1-1 draw in Kinshasa, while Tunisia beat hosts Mali 1-0.

  • Falconets arrive in Dakar to face Senegal, CAF appoints Togolese referees

    Falconets arrive in Dakar to face Senegal, CAF appoints Togolese referees

    Nigeria’s national under-20 women football team, the Falconets are in Dakar to take on Senegal on Saturday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Wednesday.

    Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, said the Falconets have a date with Senegal in the final round of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

    “The first leg clash with their Senegalese counterparts is on Saturday at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies, just outside Dakar, and the match will kick off at 4:30 p.m Senegal time (5:30 p.m Nigeria time,” he said.

    Olajire said the two–time World Cup runners-up have scored a total of 18 goals in five matches in the qualifying series while beating Central African Republic (CAR), Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

    “Against CAR, the Falconets hit seven goals away and four at home, before lashing the Congolese girls 4-0 in Brazzaville, leading to the Congolese Football Federation pulling their girls out of the return leg.

    “Cameroon’s under-20 girls showed muscle and strength in their first encounter with the Nigerian girls in Douala to end it 0-0, but fell by three goals at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja to crash out of the race.

    “On their part, the Senegalese girls reached this final qualifying round after edging the Mali 5-3 on penalty kicks shoot-out, with both teams tied 1-1 at the end of the two legs in the fourth round,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a Togolese official, Vincentia Amedome, as the centre referee for the match.

    She will be assisted by compatriot Abra Agbedanou, as assistant referee 1, and Mauritanians Mariem Chedad (as assistant referee 2) and Aissata Amadou (as fourth official).

    Sabine Zoungrana from Burkina Faso will serve as the match commissioner.

    FALCONETS SQUAD IN DAKAR

    Goalkeepers: Nelly Ekeh (Sunshine Queens); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens); Inyene Etim (Abia Angels)

    Defenders: Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Omowunmi Oshobukola (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens)

    Motunrayo Ezekiel (Naija Ratels); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Confluence Queens); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)

    Midfielders: Bashirat Amoo (Nasarawa Amazons); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels)

    Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons); Anuoluwapo Salisu (Bayelsa Queens)

    Forwards: Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens); Mercy Idoko (Nasarawa Amazons); Flourish Sebastine (Bayelsa Queens); Taiwo Lawal (FC Robo Queens); Blessing Okpe (Rivers Angels); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons)

  • AFCON: Stadium named after Sadio Mane in Senegal

    AFCON: Stadium named after Sadio Mane in Senegal

    Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane’s success with Senegal at the 2021 African Cup of Nations has seen a stadium named after him.

    Mane netted the decisive penalty for the Teranga Lions in a thrilling shoot-out win over Egypt in the final.

    The 29-year-old finished the tournament with three goals and two assists.

    Abdoulaye Diop, the mayor of Sedhiou, Mane’s hometown, has confirmed that a new area in the city will be dedicated to the player.

    “Sadio Mane has honoured all of Senegal, the Sedhiou region and the whole Casamance area..

    “I’ve decided to name the Sedhiou Stadium after him.

    “With this I wish to convey to him the gratitude of all the sons and daughters of the region.

    “He has made all mankind aware of Bambali and Sedhiou, the region’s main city,” Diop said.

  • Koulibaly hails Mendy ‘best in the world’ after AFCON final

    Koulibaly hails Mendy ‘best in the world’ after AFCON final

    Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly hailed Edouard Mendy as the best goalkeeper in the world after Senega’s Africa Cup of Nations final penalty shootout triumph.

    Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy was on top form on Sunday night to help Senegal beat Egypt in a tense penalty shootout, saving from Mohanad Lasheen to allow Sadio Mane to step up and win the title for his country.

    And while the Liverpool man will take most of the headlines, captain Koulibaly was quick to praise Mendy for his heroics on Sunday night.

    “It was a tough game and a tough tournament,” he told reporters. “We made it with our team and our power. Our goalkeeper is the best in the world and we win the title.

    “We feel happy. We knew it would be hard to win the Africa Cup of Nations but today we made it.

    “Our team deserved to win this title. We had been looking for this for a long time and now we have it. This team is magnificent.”

    Mendy remarked himself: “We are proud. We never won it before,’ he said. ‘We worked really hard to win this trophy and today we won as a group and as a country and that is why I am super proud.

    “The shooters in the penalties did really well, I tried to do my best to save one shot and I did that, so I am super happy.”

  • What winning AFCON trophy means to me – Sadio Mane

    What winning AFCON trophy means to me – Sadio Mane

    Liverpool striker Sadio Mane says winning Senegal’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title is the highlight of his career.

    He netted the winning penalty in the shootout against Egypt, having seen a first-half spot-kick saved as Sunday’s game ended 0-0 after extra-time.

    The West Africans had previously lost two Nations Cup finals, including a 1-0 defeat by Algeria three years ago.

    “It’s the best day of my life and the best trophy of my life,” the 29-year-old Liverpool forward said.

    “I won the Champions League and some [other] trophies but this is the special one for me. This is more important for me.

    “I am happy for myself, my people and all of my family.”

    Mane had been given a chance to give Senegal an early lead in Cameroon after Saliou Ciss was brought down in the area by Mohamed Abdelmonem in the fourth minute.

    However, he saw his attempt beaten away by Egypt keeper Gabaski.

    Mane credits his team-mates with giving him the strength to return in the shootout, where he sealed a 4-2 triumph.

    “When I missed the first penalty, it was a big blow for me,” he said.

    “But my teammates came to me and said ‘Sadio, we lose together and we win together. We know you. You have done too much for us – keep on going’.

    “That made me stronger and I think it made the difference when I got the second one.

    “All the boys came to me and said ‘Sadio, we trust you’ and that gave me more motivation. The trophy belongs to the whole Senegal team – everyone deserves it.”