Senegal’s Young Teranga Lions have won the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever after defeating Gambia 2-0 on Saturday.
Senegal won over their arch-rivals thanks to Sulaymane Faye and Mamadou Camara’s goals in Cairo, Egypt. The West African side qualified for Saturday’s final with a hundred per cent record winning all their matches without conceding a goal.
With three runners-up finishes in 2015, 2017 and 2019, Young Teranga Lions were in their fourth TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON final. Malick Daf’s side has followed in the footsteps of the senior Teranga Lions, the Beach Soccer national team and the home-based national team in winning continental glory over the last year.
The Young Teranga Lions started better at the Cairo International Stadium with their direct approach causing the Young Scorpions problems at the back. The Young Teranga Lions broke the deadlock after six minutes through Sulaymane Faye’s header from a cross down the right channel.
The Gambian defence failed to deal with Pape Diallo’s cross, allowing Faye to head into an unguarded goal. The Young weathered the early setback to keep possession with Alieu Gibba and Mahmud Bajo
Lamine Camara fired a shot from a distance which Pa Ebou Dampha parried towards the inrushing Sulaymane Faye who failed to score in 28 minutes.
