Diaspora, Africa – (African Boulevard News) – The TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has entered its business end with the semi-final line-ups complete. A thrilling quarter-final round, which was concluded on Thursday night, saw the top eight teams battle for a place in the final four.
The matchday started with Burkina Faso taking on Nigeria in a tightly contested match. Burkina Faso triumphed 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals, thanks to an own goal from Nigerian defender, Hamza Giddado, in the 16th minute.
In the second game, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia played out a goalless draw, which had to be decided on penalties. Cote d’Ivoire held their nerve to win the shootout 5-3, with goalkeeper Youssouf Kamara making a crucial save.
In the third fixture, Cameroon faced Senegal in a highly anticipated encounter. Cameroon scored two goals in quick succession within the first 11 minutes, courtesy of striker Kameni Tchoua and Marlyse Ngo. Senegal pulled one back through midfielder Pape Bouba Sarr in the 57th minute, but Cameroon held on to win 2-1.
The last quarter-final game saw Ghana take on Egypt. The Black Starlets of Ghana proved too strong for their opponents, winning 3-1, thanks to goals from Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Nasiru Mohammed, and Sampson Agyapong.
The semi-final fixtures are now set, with Burkina Faso set to face Cote d’Ivoire, and Cameroon taking on Ghana. The matches will be played at the Stade de Kégué in Togo on Monday, March 28, 2022.
Football enthusiasts across the continent have been entertained by the exciting football on show at the tournament thus far. The competition has also served as a platform for young talents to showcase their skills, with some players catching the eye of talent scouts and top football clubs.
In a statement released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the body expressed satisfaction with the progress of the tournament so far. “We are delighted with the quality of football on display at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON. The passion, skill and determination shown by the players have been a joy to watch,” the statement read.
As the tournament enters its final stages, football lovers across the continent eagerly await the semi-final fixtures, with the hope of witnessing more thrilling football action.
The African Boulevard News will provide live updates and analysis of the matches, keeping readers up to speed with the latest happenings at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON.
