The junior Lions of Senegal on Wednesday at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, massacred the Amajimbos of South Africa 5-0 which is the highest any team has scored against another in the ongoing CAF U17 Cup of Nations. Senegal also by this victory remains the only team with a clean slate meaning not conceding a single goal so far.
Also, Morocco whipped the host, Algeria, 3-0 to also qualify for the semifinal and World Cup. The qualification of Morocco means that two world cup slots have been decided.
The Senegalese so much pressurized 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 2nd 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 two goals, first in the 54th minute thorugh Sall O assist and the 5th goal through I. Diallo in the 72nd minute emerging as the highest scorer with five goals so far. Three other close players with three goals each are Moslem Anatouf; Vicky Mkhawana of South Africa and Emmanuel Mwanza of Zambia.
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 7 goals. The Lions hit Congo 1-0; hosts Algeria 3-0 and bashed debutante Somalia by same margin of 3-0 that was how the country emerged the only country to emerge with full points of 9 in the tournament at the group stages.
South Africa scored 5 goals and conceded 7 with only 3 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. Senegal had a total 70 shots at goal with 22 on target; stringed an average 362.7 passes; committed 53 fouls with 3 yellow cards and had 29 corner kicks. These showed Senegal were dangerous with the ball anywhere from 25 yards to the goal post, very physical and aggressive with the fouls but smarter to escape the cards having the big number of corner kicks shows their attackers can be pocketed in many instances.
The South Africans came as a weakling to the quarterfinals having 37 shots at goal with 13 shots on target; stringed 397 passes showing they are better than Senegal here; the Amajimbos committed 35 fouls far less than that of Senegal with a yellow card and just 10 corner kicks.
In the match of today, Senegal outshined South Africa with 25 shots at goal with 4 shots on target against 2 shots at goal of South Africa and none on target. The differentials in the other areas were not significant except 7 corner kicks to Senegal and 2 to South Africa.
Mali will meet Congo at 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba tomorrow, Thursday 11th May at 1700 hours and Nigeria will slug it out with Burkina Faso at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers on 11th May at 2000 hours in the third and fourth quarterfinals.
The four semifinalists will represent Africa at the World U17 Cup later in the year.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
