Habeeb Akinfegbe
Senegal gladdened the hearts of their fans by beginning their campaign at the CAF U-23 Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over South Africa on Saturday in Dakar as Tunisia spanked Zambia 2-1 to claim joint top position with the hosts but Senegal remains first due to a goal superiority over the Tunisians.
Ibrahim Keita scored the first goal of the game for Senegal via a penalty in the 16th minute.
Keita made it two for his team in the 22nd minute when he broke away from his markers and powered home a shot after some fantastic passing by Senegal inside the final third of the field.
Siddy Saar made it 3-1 in the 86th minute when he turned swiftly and powered his shot past Ricardo Goss in South African goal.
However, it was Haythem Jouini's brace that gave the Carthage Eagles all three points against their Zambian adversaries. Joini opened scoring after just three minutes but Kampamba equalised on 15 minutes before Jouini grabbed a second on 83rd minute.
Actions move to group B as Egypt face Algeria and Nigeria Mali. Nigeria play her opening
game of the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, against Mali at the Caroline Faye Stadium in M’bour, Senegal. At
stake, is the 2016 Olympic qualification ticket. Having missed the 2012
edition and also missing the chance to win the gold medal at the 2015
Africa Games in Congo, the team coached by Samson Siasia is under
pressure to deliver.Senegal gladdened the hearts of their fans by beginning their campaign at the CAF U-23 Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over South Africa on Saturday in Dakar as Tunisia spanked Zambia 2-1 to claim joint top position with the hosts but Senegal remains first due to a goal superiority over the Tunisians.
Ibrahim Keita scored the first goal of the game for Senegal via a penalty in the 16th minute.
Keita made it two for his team in the 22nd minute when he broke away from his markers and powered home a shot after some fantastic passing by Senegal inside the final third of the field.
Siddy Saar made it 3-1 in the 86th minute when he turned swiftly and powered his shot past Ricardo Goss in South African goal.
However, it was Haythem Jouini's brace that gave the Carthage Eagles all three points against their Zambian adversaries. Joini opened scoring after just three minutes but Kampamba equalised on 15 minutes before Jouini grabbed a second on 83rd minute.
The match against Mali will be a true test of their intention of restoring their dignity.
Mali, were whiskers away from beating Nigeria at the Africa Games, but for a late minute goal that rescued a point for the Nigerian team in that encounter. The Malians vowed to fight again at this tournament, even as Siasia groaned about his players inability to convert scoring chances.
But that was then, Siasia has reinforced his team with tested strikers in the mould of Junior Ajayi, Taiwo Awoniyi and FIFA Under-17 goal king Victor Osimhen fresh from his exploits in Chile 2015.
A ten day training stint in Gambia has given the Nigerian team some
measure of preparedness and it remains to be seen how they off-laod in
their first match of the tournament.Mali’s strongest point is their resolute defending and their quick counter-attack. They will be coming out strong against the ‘Olympic Eagles’, but Siasia must have taken good notes and knows just what to do to keep the Malians in check.
One man that may give the Nigerians a cause for worry is Nantes’ Adama Niane who emerged as joint top scorer in the qualifiers with four goals. The forward can shoot from long range and can also trouble the defence.
Siasia varies his system depending on the opponent, but usually sets his team up in a 4-3-3 formation or a 4-4-2 which can become as attacking as a 4-2-4 as the game might be.
Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick backed the team to achieve its primary aim at the tournament.
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