Yaounde, Cameroon – (African Boulevard News) – The 2022 TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues to produce exhilarating matches, with the latest being Mali’s 1-0 win over Senegal in the opening game of Group B.
Mali’s head coach Soumaïla Coulibaly believes the fact that his team has already played one match at the tournament in Algeria will offer them an advantage when they face Cameroon in the second game of Group B.
“The first match is always tough, and we are happy to win it. Going into the second match against Cameroon, we have an advantage because we have already played a match and know what to expect from the tournament. We are looking forward to the challenge,” Coulibaly said during a post-match press conference.
The Malian team scored the winning goal in the 37th minute through Abdoul Samake, who drilled in a low shot from inside the box. Senegal tried to get back into the game but could not find the equalizer, leaving Mali to claim all three points.
In their second match, Mali will face host nation Cameroon, who drew 0-0 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening game of Group B.
Cameroon’s head coach Anicet Mbarga Foe said he is expecting a tough encounter against Mali, but his team is ready to face the challenge.
“Mali is a good team, and we must be prepared to face them. We are confident that we can get a positive result in the game and put ourselves in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages,” Foe said.
Mali and Cameroon will face off on Tuesday, March 15, at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers.
The TotalEnergies U17 AFCON is an important tournament for African football as it offers young players the opportunity to showcase their talents on the international stage. The tournament is also the final qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, which will be held in Peru.
In conclusion, Mali’s victory over Senegal has put them in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages of the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON, but they will face a tough test against Cameroon. Both teams will be looking to secure a win to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup. Stay tuned to African Boulevard News for updates on the tournament.
