By: Akosua Adjei
The sun has set and the stars have aligned. It’s only right that a spotlight fell on teams who don’t have a blemish that prevents the sun from setting or the stars from shining bright like a diamond.
When the stars of the future met in the beautiful North African country of Egypt, there were no defending champions to defend their title. However, there were the cubs of Senegal and the Scorpions of Gambia whose determination, zeal, and quality took them all the way.
Senegal and Gambia are through to the finals of the 24th African Cup of Nations U20 tournament.
At the Cairo International Stadium, the 2015 U20 AFCON runners-up made light work of Tunisia. Generation Foot’s Lamine Camara’s brace and Pape Dembe’s only goal launched Senegal into the finals.
The six-time U-20 AFCON participants qualified for the finals without conceding a goal, drawing or losing a match. Coach Malick Daf recorded a perfect finish in the group stage which was followed by a flawless knock-out stage.
Senegal 1-0 Nigeria
Senegal 3-0 Mozambique
Senegal 4-0 Egypt
Senegal 1-0 Benin
Senegal 3-0 Tunisia
While the football gods put into black-and-white the plot for Egypt 2022, one major characteristic that hero needed to possess was a clean sheet in order to make it to the finals. For their part, the Scorpions understood the assignments and aligned their play on the pitch to the wishes in the skies. Coach Abdoulie Bojang having won the coach of the group stage after recording an out in out result in the group stage. The Scorpions won 5-0 against South Sudan.
The final hurdle was for Gambia to take out the most successful side, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria and Bojang’s 7th-minute goal was all they needed to set a final date with Senegal.
The Cairo International stadium will be the venue for the final involving the two West African sides.
The U-20 AFCON is live on GTV Sports+.