Nigeria defeat Senegal in dramatic penalty shootout to reach U20 AFCON semi-finals

Nigeria secured a spot in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. They defeated defending champions Senegal 3-1 on penalties. The match ended goalless after regulation and extra time at the Suez Canal Stadium on Monday.

Both teams created chances but failed to score in 120 minutes. Nigeria, unbeaten in the group stages, remained calm during the shootout. Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Israel Ayuma converted their penalties successfully. Senegal struggled under pressure; Pierre Dorival’s shot was saved, Mame Mor Faye’s was denied, and Ousmane Konaté hit the crossbar.

Seydi Diouck scored Senegal’s only penalty, but it wasn't enough. This result marks Nigeria's eighth consecutive quarter-final win at U20 AFCON. They advance to the semi-finals with a perfect record in quarter-finals.

Despite the scoreline, both teams had chances to win in open play. Nigeria’s Kparobo Arierhi and Divine Oliseh forced saves from Senegal keeper Mouhamed Sissokho. Meanwhile, Senegal's Cheikh Thiam nearly scored with a header that hit the post.

As fatigue set in, both teams showed determination. Nigeria made tactical substitutions like Precious Benjamin and Rickson Mendos for fresh energy. Senegal also reshuffled their lineup with Seydi Diouck and Mame Mor Faye looking for a breakthrough.

In extra time, Nigeria pressed hard for a goal. Tahir Maigana's curling strike in the 106th minute was saved by Sissokho. Israel Ayuma also had a long-range effort stopped two minutes later. Despite Nigeria's dominance late on, they couldn't break the deadlock.

Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt emerged as a quiet hero for Nigeria during penalties. His save against Mame Mor Faye proved crucial for their victory. Senegal entered this match with strong defensive stats but fell short against Nigeria's discipline.

After this loss, it marked Senegal's first knockout defeat since 2017. Post-match, Nigeria head coach Ladan Bosso praised his team's resilience under pressure: “We prepared for all scenarios.”

With this victory, Nigeria moves closer to an eighth U20 AFCON title while Senegal reflects on their campaign.