Mali will play Senegal in Sunday’s final of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger, in a repeat of the opening Group B encounter.
Mali needed penalties to beat Nigeria after a 1-1 draw to book their place in the final, while Senegal beat South Africa 1-0 in the other semi-final.
Senegal’s coach Youssouph Dabo says the final will not be a repeat of the group encounter which his side won 2-0.
“Facing the Mali be a different match because it is a final,” he insisted.
“We beat them in the first game but I said it after that game that they can go far, so I am not surprised to see them in the final.”
Dabo’s side progressed to the final thanks to an own goal from South Africa defender Givemore Khupe with 20 minutes left to play.
Khupe turned the ball into his own net from an Ousseynou Niang cross after he had beaten Keenan Phillips on the left.
South Africa’s coach Thabo Senong, who is at his third Under-20 Nations Cup finals, is already looking ahead to May’s World Cup in Poland.
“As far as the World Cup is concerned I can say that we have enough time to prepare for it,” he said after the match.
“Playing against Nigeria is another opportunity for us to face opponents of another calibre and be the start of our preparation for the world.
“We will do our best since we play every game to win it.”
