2023 U-20 AFCON: Senegal Beat 10-Man Flying Eagles To Go Top Of Group A
THE Flying Eagles of Nigeria got their campaign at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt off to a poor start, after losing 1-0 to Senegal in their first game in Group A played inside the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening.
A late first-half goal by Souleymane Faye earned Senegal the first win of the tournament.
KAA Gent forward, Ahmed Abdulahi, was red-carded in the fixture after receiving a second yellow card late in the second half.
The Ladan Bosso boys will now look to get back to winning ways when they face the host country, Egypt in the second group game on Wednesday.
Egypt earlier on Sunday played out a goalless draw against Mozambique in the tournament’s opening fixture.
With the result of Matchday 1 fixtures, Senegal are now top of Group A with a maximum of 3 points.
The Flying Eagles had the first big chance in 21 minutes but the effort inside the box was well blocked.
In the 32nd minute, a dangerous cross from the right was headed by Adams Alade which landed on the roof of the net.
Senegal were awarded a free-kick in a decent area in 34 minutes but Nathaniel Nwosu in goal for the Flying Eagles came out to claim the ball.
Senegal broke the deadlock in the 40th minute through Souleymane Faye, who slammed the ball into the net after Nwosu had saved an initial low shot by Pape Diop.
With two minutes left to play in the first half, the Flying Eagles were forced to an early substitution as Daniel Daga went off with a knock and was replaced by Nicholas Jonathan.
Just three minutes into the second half Senegal won a free-kick but the dangerous floated effort took a slight deflection off a Flying Eagles player and rolled out for a corner.
Senegal continued to create chances and went close in 56 minutes off a dangerous cross which a Flying Eagles player did well enough to head away for a corner.
At 64 minutes the Flying Eagles were awarded a free-kick close to the box of the Senegalese team but Emmanuel Uchegbu hit his left foot strike against the wall.
In the 69th minute, a Flying Eagles player tried a left-foot strike from a distance which the Senegalese keeper saved.
Senegal almost doubled their lead in 71 minutes but Lamine Camara failed to direct his effort towards the goal.
With four minutes remaining a timely clearance by a Flying Eagles defender inside the box denied a Senegalese player the chance to shoot at goal.
In the 88th minute, the Flying Eagles had their first shot on target but the strike from range was well saved by the Senegalese keeper.
Senegal almost went 2-0 up on 93 minutes following a mix-up between Flying Eagles keeper and his defender but Mame Ngom saw his attempt go over the bar.
A minute later Ngom missed another very good chance as he saw his strike graze the crossbar after rounding the keeper.
And in stoppage time substitute Ahmed Abdullahi was sent off for kicking the face of a Senegalese player.
