Rabat – Senegal’s U17 team Head Coach Saliou Dia has praised Morocco’s U17 national football team’s strong form during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, which took place Friday evening in Algeria.
“We played against a very strong team. Conceding first made the match very difficult but I think we should have been more cautious,” Saliou said.
While Morocco took the lead in the first half of the game by scoring the first goal in the 14th minute, Senegal asserted their dominance in the second half, scoring two goals in the 80th and 83rd minutes.
“We managed to regroup and dominated possession of the ball, especially in the second half,” the Senegalese coach said, celebrating the “good fight” and resilience that his squad displayed.
Dia expressed his great “delight” for the victory, which marked Senegal’s first time winning the tournament’s title.
The coach indicated that his team’s remarkable performance is the reflection of “work and investment that started many years back and now the fruits are here.”
Despite Senegal’s win, Dia said that yesterday’s match was a learning experience for his squad, arguing that they have a lot to learn and correct in preparation for the World Cup.
For his part, the Atlas Lions’ head coach Said Chiba praised the Moroccan squad for their spectacular performance throughout the continental tournament.
“The result is harsh on the players at this age but we will take it in. This is football and I told them that I am proud of their performance,” he added.
Following the U17 final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) named Chiba the tournament’s Best Coach, highlighting him as a “leader” and “mastermind.”
