African Youth Championship hosts Senegal received a confidence boost ahead of their continental campaign after recording two back-to-back wins over South Africa and Zambia in warm-up friendlies.
They defeated ‘Amajita’ 1-0 at the Diambars Institute last Saturday, thanks to a lone goal from Ibrahima Wadji just before the break, before sealing a victory by the same scoreline over the young Chipolopolo at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium on Tuesday, with a second-half winner from Alassane Diouf.
For their third appearance at the junior tournament, the Senegalese will be looking for a last four achievement and a qualification for the U-20 FIFA World Cup New-Zealand 2015, after finishing 8th in 1993 and 6th in 1995.
National coach Joseph Koto called-up a 21-man list including 9 foreign-based players for the show-piece event.
“We travelled inside and outside the country and have set up the best possible squad,” Koto confirmed at a press conference.
Senegal will kick off the 19th edition of the African Youth Championship against Nigeria at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium in Dakar on Sunday, before facing Côte d’Ivoire on March 11 and Congo on March 14 in their other Group A encounters.
SENEGAL U-20 SQUAD FOR 2015 AFRICAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Goalkeepers: Lamine Ba (Dakar Sacré Cœur), Ibrahima Sy (Lorient, France), Seydou Sy (Monaco, France)
Defenders: Alassane Sylla (Diambars), Moussa Wagué (Aspire), Racine Coly (Brescia, Italy), Elimane Cissé (Diambars), Pape Abdou Cissé (Ajaccio, France), Andali Nou Corréa (Dakar Sacré Cœur), Mohamed Sané (Dijon, France).
Midfielders: Roger Gomis (Louhans Cuiseaux, France), Sidy Sarr (Mbour Petite Côte), Mamadou Loum Ndiaye (US Ouakam), Alassane Sow (Saragosse, Spain), Soro Mbaye (Sedan, France).
Forwards: El hadj Malick Niang (US Gorée), Alassane Diouf (Darou Salam), Moussa Koné (Dakar Sacré Cœur), Ibrahima Wadji (Mbour Petite Côte), Omar Goudiaby (Guédiawaye FC), Sékou Goudiaby (Real Vallecano, Spain)