Omanghana
Defending champions Senegal will face Tanzania in the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after both sides emerged victorious in thrilling semifinal encounters that were decided by penalty shootouts.
The two teams booked their places in the championship match following dramatic contests in Morocco, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
Senegal’s path to the final came after a tense battle against host nation Morocco in Rabat. The defending champions appeared to be on course for victory after Mouhamed Wagner gave the Teranga Cubs the lead in the 24th minute.
As the match entered stoppage time, Senegal looked poised to secure a place in the final. However, Morocco produced a dramatic late response when Ismail El Aoud found the equalizer in the 10th minute of added time, sending the home crowd into celebration and forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
With the scores level at 1-1 after regulation time, both teams displayed remarkable composure from the penalty spot. Senegal eventually prevailed 7-6 in a marathon shootout, ending Morocco’s hopes of reaching the final and securing another opportunity to compete for the continental title.
On the other side of the bracket, Tanzania achieved a historic milestone by reaching the U-17 AFCON final for the first time in the country’s history.
Tanzania and Egypt battled through a tightly contested semifinal that ended goalless after 90 minutes. Despite several chances for both teams, neither side could find the breakthrough, setting up another dramatic penalty shootout.
Tanzanian goalkeeper Haji Abdallah emerged as the hero of the match, producing a series of crucial saves to help his side secure a 4-3 victory on penalties. The win marked one of the most significant achievements in Tanzanian youth football and earned the East African nation a place in its first-ever U-17 AFCON final.
The tournament will conclude in Rabat with Morocco and Egypt competing for third place before Tanzania and Senegal clash for the championship.
Morocco and Egypt will meet in the third-place playoff on June 1, while the final between Tanzania and Senegal is scheduled for June 2 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
In addition to reaching the semifinals, Senegal, Tanzania, Morocco, and Egypt have all secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where they will represent Africa on the global stage.
With Senegal aiming to successfully defend its title and Tanzania seeking a historic first championship, the final promises to be a memorable showdown between two of the tournament’s standout teams.
Source: Omanghana
