The CAN U17 quarter-finals are played on Wednesday and Thursday. Senegal, the most impressive team in the first round, will meet South Africa when Algeria, under pressure, will face Morocco. Mali-Congo and Nigeria-Burkina complete the picture.
The king is dead, long live the next king… Cameroon, defending champions, were sadly eliminated from the AFCON U17 in the first round in Algeria and left their throne vacant. Other Cubs, from Senegal, are now aiming for the title at the start of the quarter-finals. Like their A-team greats, African champions in January 2022their elders who won CHAN in Algeriaand their big brothers of the U20 also crowned this year, the Senegalese U17 dream of lifting the Cup.
They have the weapons and demonstrated it in the first round with three games, three wins, including a convincing 3-0 against the host country. All with 7 goals scored and none conceded. This Wednesday, May 10 at 4 p.m. (UTC), Serigne Saliou Dia’s men are thus advancing as favorites ahead of South Africa, third in Pool B and drafted for these quarter-finals.
Algeria-Morocco, a match like the others?
In the other match of this Wednesday, the tension could invite itself on the lawn with Algeria which will face Morocco (7 p.m.). The tense relations between the two states, which had caused the withdrawal of the local Moroccan team at the last CHAN, will they be felt on the lawn? Very little chance according to the Algerian and Moroccan coaches who are focusing on qualifying for the semi-finals, synonymous with a ticket for the next World Cup. ” We expect a tough game. A Maghreb derby that will be played on small detailsbelieves Rezki Remane, coach of the little Fennecs. This is an important appointment that we absolutely must not miss. We want to qualify for the semi-finals at all costs, for the U17 World Cup »
” All the meetings between the North African teams have a particular flavor, they are derbies which are played with great enthusiasm, everyone wants to win, says Said Chiba, guide of the Atlas Cubs. But after all, it’s still a football match. »
On Thursday, Mali, who have already won the Cup twice, will face Congo (4 p.m.) and Nigeria will play against Burkina for the last match of these quarters at 7 p.m.