CAN U20: in the final, Senegal to do like the “big ones”, Gambia to be big

Gambian striker Adama Bojang and Senegalese striker Ibou Sané are aiming for a first trophy for their country.

© Photos cafonline/RFI editing

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

2 mins

On Saturday March 11, the CAN U20 final will be a West African derby between Senegal and Gambia.

Between a Cubs team programmed to win the trophy, like its elders from team A and A ', and another, the Young Scorpions, which wants to thwart the predictions.

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These are the two best formations of the tournament with almost the same course.

Five wins in five matches;

12 goals scored for Senegal, 10 for Gambia.

No goals conceded and a success over the same prestigious opponent, Nigeria (7 titles won), beaten by the same score (1-0) by Senegal in the pool match, and Gambia in the semi-finals.

The two teams, who have never won the CAN U20, therefore meet for an unprecedented final in Cairo.

Same course, but not the same momentum.

The Cubs landed in Egypt, escorted by big ambitions born of the success of their elders, African champions in 2022 and crowned at CHAN 2023. It is a team that has no doubts about its future coronation even after losing three finals over the last four editions.

" That was before !

could launch executives Lamine Camara and Papa Amadou Diallo, who won the CHAN last January in Algeria and who are among the four winners of the trophy called up to compete in this CAN.

Double scorer in the semi-final against Tunisia (3-0), Lamine Camara, the new FC Metz player, had launched at the end of the match against the Aiglons de Carthage: “We still have to win the trophy 

 »

The Senegalese

"are grabbing everything right now..."

Sure of their strength, the foals of Malick Daf will face those of Aboulie Bojang, third at the last CAN U20 in Mauritania in 2021. It was with the same coach who continues to advance his young players after having proven himself in the Gambian first division championship with in particular the title of champion with Steve Biko.

,” said Aboulie Bojang, after the semi-final victory against Nigeria (1-0).  

Senegal and Gambia met last September during the tournament for the West Africa Zone qualifiers.

In Nouakchott, Mauritania, the Young Scorpions lost 0-1 to a goal by Senegalese captain Samba Diallo.

This West African derby between very close neighbors - Gambia is landlocked in Senegal and the two countries share several dialects - will most certainly be hotly contested.

The Cubs will want to imitate their elders and the Young Scorpions do better than their big brothers by bringing home the first continental trophy in its history.

5️⃣ games

5️⃣ wins

5️⃣ clean sheets

An extraordinary performance #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 2023 from Senegal and Gambia 👏@Fsfofficielle |

@TheGambiaFF pic.twitter.com/Vc93qPhRps

— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 - FR (@caf_online_FR) March 8, 2023

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