NAIROBI, Kenya, May 20 – Senegal staged a stunning come back, scoring two goals in four minutes to clinch their first ever U17 Africa Cup of Nations title, with a 2-1 victory over Morocco in the final at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
Substutute Mamadou Sawane steped off the bench to head home the winning goal seven minutes from time, completing a turnaround for the Senegalese who had come from a goal down.
Skipper Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal had given Morocco a 14th minute lead, one they kept until the 79th minute when Serigne Falou Diouf scored a VAR awarded penalty.
The victory in Algeria continues what has been a brilliant year so far for the Senegalese. They won the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) title in February at the same venue, while they also won the U20 AFCON title in Egypt in March.
They now hold the titles for the U20, U17 and senior teams. Only their U23 team is not on the line up as they have not qualified for next month’s Cup of Nations, which will also be an Olympic qualification tournament.
Skipper Ait Boudlal peeled away from his markers before beating the keeper to the ball to head home from an Abdel Hamid Maali corner. The Moroccans kept the 1-0 lead till halftime, as they keenly kept possession and played to a good tactical shape.
In the second half, Senegal started faster off the blocks, Mamadou Sadio shooting just over with only 45 seconds gone on the clock. On the other end, Morocco had a chance when Maali struck a shot from the edge of the box, but it flew wide.
Senegal’s turnaround came in the 76th minute when skipper Ait Boudlal was adjudged to have handled inside the box. After visiting the pitch-side monitor, the referee awarded the penalty and Serigne tucked it home.
The goal inspired the Senegalese and they piled pressure on Morocco in the final 10 minutes of the game. Just four minutes later they had their reward when substitute Sawane stormed in to the edge of the six yard box to head home what would be the winner from a corner.
