Senegal is the only team in the competition that has not conceded a goal or lost any game. Despite the weight of expectation slowly piling on their shoulders, Senegal’s head coach Saliou Dia says the team is under no pressure heading to Sunday evening’s TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final meeting against Burkina Faso in Annaba.
Coach Dia says these expectations have not weighed down on them.
I have no pressure going into the game. I was the first coach to give Senegal a continental title when we won the African Games in 2015 and we beat Burkina Faso in the semis, so I am not under any pressure. My only concern is these players and whether they can produce good football. Everyone is appreciating what we are doing here and we want to keep fighting and continue to the final.”
The tactician says it will be a tougher duel against former champions Burkina Faso, who have qualified for the final three times before.
Senegal is looking at clinching another Continental piece of silverware, continuing the trend of the West Africans over the recent past.
Their U20 team recently clinched the AFCON crown in Egypt and in January, their local team won the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). This adds to their 2021 senior AFCON title as well as the BEACH AFCON Crown.
The Teranga Cubs are playing in the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time ever.
