With the west African team competing in every major football tournament on the continent, Senegal is emerging as a strong power on the African continent.

The Senegalese have won the Chan tournament, the U23 Afcon tournament, including the senior Afcon triumph in 2022.

Now, Senegal U17 will face Morocco, who defeated two-time Afcon champions, Mali 6-5 on post-match penalties to reach Friday’s final.

Atlas Cubs goalkeeper, Taha Benrhozil, save three of the eight penalties, to be hero of the night, after a barren draw in regulation time. This is Morocco’s first junior Afcon final, and their previous best finish at this competition was fourth place in 2013.

Morocco’s coach Said Chiba, told Cafonline that he was pleased with the team’s performance to reach the final.

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“We needed to manage it well and to ensure Mali, which is a very high-level team does not find it’s rhythm and channels to attack. We played compact as to how we had planned” he said.

Will fans push Morocco to victory?

“We were patient and very organized and this was the only solution for us to win. “I am proud of the players and proud of this team. We have made everyone at home proud and now we hope for one more beautiful story,” Chiba concluded.

The two sides are playing the final for the first time ever. Senegal have never gone beyond the group stages in this tournament before.

Each of the four teams who advanced to the semi-finals has earned a spot in this year’s FIFA World Cup, to be held in Peru.