Mali Win Maiden U-20 AFCON Crown
- Pip Senegal 3-2 on penalties
The junior Eagles of Mali on Sunday piped West African neighbours, Senegal 3-2 on penalty kicks to claim their maiden Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Currently in its 15th edition, the biennial continental football carnival flagged-off on February 2, 2019 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for under-20 national teams in the continent.
Both sides went into the penalty-shoot-outs following their one-all deadlock after extra time in the final match played in Niamey, Niger Republic.
Played at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey, the keenly-contested final had the Malians, who defeated Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in the semi-finals, opening scores in the 15th minute.
Coming against the run of play, the goal was off the feet of Boubacar Traore that converted Hadji Drame’s inch-perfect delivery. It was the first time the impressive Senegalese had themselves chasing a match from behind in the two-weeks’ competition.
However, with about 15 minutes left of play, the junior Teranga Lions struck to grind out the long-awaited equalizer as FC Metz’s Amadou Ndiaye volleyed home from close range. With the parity restored, the match thereafter dragged into extra time with the Malians running out eventual winners carting home their maiden trophy from the resultant spot kicks.
Sadly, the competition’s top goal scorer, Ndiaye, orchestrated the Senegalese’s misery as he missed his kick before teammate Ousseynou Niang followed suit to gift the Malians victory.
The outcome was Senegal’s third successive defeat in the final as the Malian junior Eagles steadied their nerves in the lively taken penalties.
Their three successive penalty kicks came from through Traore, Lassana Ndiaye and Abdoulaye Diaby.
In the individual awards, Senegal’s Ndiaye emerged the tournament’s top scorer, with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize going to his compatriot Moussa Ndiaye. The Senegalese also won the Fair Play Award.
