FIFA U-20 World Cup: Late Equalizer Sends Senegal Packing

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Late Equalizer Sends Senegal Packing
Credit: Iconsport

The U-20 African champions, Senegal, are out of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup following Colombia's late equalizer (1-1) on Saturday night at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.

Senegal is the first African national team to be eliminated from this World Cup edition. They finished last in Group C with two points in three games and no win.

RS Berkan midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara opened the scoring for Senegal in the first 30 minutes after the Colombian defence handed him the ball, giving hope to the Teranga Lions of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup knockouts. However, this hope was crushed in the added time (90+5) with only five more minutes remaining.

Substitute Juan Castilla sent a brilliant pass from behind the Senegalese defence to his teammate Oscar Cortés, who scored the equalizer that eliminated Senegal from the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Senegal was eager for a win since they needed a win to make it to the Round of 16, while Colombia had already secured a spot in the knockout stage following their two wins in a row.

This draw secured the top spot for the South American national team with seven points. Israel U-20 finished second with four points, while Japan U-20 placed third with three points. Therefore, U-20 Senegal dropped to last place with two points in three games.

Flying Eagles’ First Defeat in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Nigeria suffered their first defeat in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup against Brazil on Saturday. The Flying Eagles lost 2-0 to the Samba in the third game of Group D and failed to maintain their 100 per cent victory percentage. Nigeria, who already secured a spot in the Round of 16, dropped to third in Group D, with Brazil topping the group and Italy in second due to the goal difference. The three national teams share six points, with two wins and one loss for each. The Dominican Republic is last with zero points.

Tunisia Eager for a Spot in the Round of 16

Tunisia will be in a direct battle for automatic qualification with Uruguay from Group E. Both sides will go all in for three points; however, a draw can guarantee Tunisia the third spot, which will allow the North African team to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Tunisia will aim to qualify for the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time after failing to do so in their last two U-20 World Cup appearances.

Gambia Aiming to Top Group F

The Gambia, which has already secured a spot in the Round of 16, will battle for three points against South Korea on Sunday night. Gambia is currently topping Group F with six points following two victories against France and Honduras. Moreover, South Korea is two points behind the African team.

Frequently Asked Questions About the FIFA U-20 World Cup

How many African teams qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup?

The 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup features four African countries: Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, and Tunisia.

How many African teams have qualified for the Round of 16 in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup?

Nigeria and Gambia are the only African nations to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup Round of 16.

This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago

Chandan Pandey
Chandan is a passionate writer, editor, and marketer with a love for football. He has bylines in leading online publications and has worked with renowned sports brands like The Olympics, Fox Sports Asia, and the Indian Super League (ISL). As for the unimpressive part, he loves Chelsea.
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