Senegal U23 were held to a 0-0 draw by South Sudan on Wednesday in Juba, in the first leg of the second round of qualifiers for the 2027 U23 AFCON. Serigne Saliou Dia’s men will have to make the difference on 17 November in Dakar.
The Lionceaux dominated in Juba but could not find a way through against South Sudan, according to Seneweb and Wiwsport. Senegal’s dominance was real, but it did not show on the scoreboard.
The draw leaves the tie open ahead of the second leg, scheduled for 17 November at 19:00 at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar.
Diémé misses the chance of the match
Wiwsport reports that Senegal dominated but let a big chance slip: Aliou Diémé, at the end of a counter-attack started by Serigne Fallou Diouf, could not convert.
The end of the match produced further openings. In the 75th minute, Antoine Junior Wenck looked for Cheikh Tidiane Thiam, but the ball had already gone out. Five minutes later, substitute Ousseynou Fall Seck won a corner, without any more reward, according to Wiwsport.
Fifteen expatriates and eight locals
For this double header, Serigne Saliou Dia called up 23 players: 15 play abroad and 8 play locally, according to Senego and Seneweb. Among the reinforcements are Ibrahima Cissé, of La Gantoise, and Serigne Fallou Diouf, a U17 Africa Cup of Nations champion in 2023, Senego reports. The coach also recalled Antoine Junior Wenck (Rio Ave) and Ousseynou Fall Seck (Randers).
The starting eleven in Juba, according to Wiwsport and Seneweb: Mouhamed Sissokho – Abdou Aziz Ndiaye, El Hadji Abdoulaye Dieng, Serigne Fallou Diouf, Alpha Amadou Touré – Raphaël Ndong, Antoine Junior Wenck, Cheikh Tidiane Thiam – Yaya Diémé, Aliou Diémé, Ibrahima Cissé. Raphaël Ndong, of Teungueth FC, wore the captain’s armband.
Famara Camara, a midfielder at Nashville SC, was on the bench. The 21-year-old was signed this summer for $2.5 million from Ranheim, according to SixOneFive Soccer.
South Sudan, a new opponent
On the other side, South Sudan achieved a first: reaching this second round of qualifiers after eliminating Djibouti in October, according to Senego. Senegal, for their part, arrived with two friendly wins against Gambia in September, according to Seneweb and Senego.