Senegal’s national team began the defense of their title by beating Uganda, 10-1, in the Group B first match of the 5th edition of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Mozambique 2022. Senegal’s Yoff Beach Soccer striker Seydina Diagne was the star of the match, having scored four goals.
Knowing their pet opponent very well, Senegal needed two minutes to reach the goal. Mamadou Sylla was the first to open the scoring, and three minutes later Seydina Diagne made it 2-0.
Physically strong and with a ruthless attack, Senegal extended the lead again with two more goals from the inevitable Raoul Mendy, the team’s top scorer. Uganda tried to shoot from long range, but the Senegalese defense was impassable.
It was with the lead on the board that Senegal’s Teranga Lions went into the first period at half-time.
In the second period, Uganda’s Sand Cranes kept their goal intact, until the unleashing of Senegal. Three more goals from Seydina Diagne, a brace from Amar Samb and a goal from Seydina Sene made it 10-1 with a minute left in the third period, the consolation goal for Uganda having been scored earlier by Baker Lukooya.
As fate would have it, the Sand Cranes of Uganda would once again cross paths with defending champions Senegal after doing so in the last AFCON. Still lying in the memory of the Ugandans, is the heavy defeat imposed by the Senegalese (10-3) on the opening day of the biggest continental competition.
There were plenty of reasons for Angelo Schirinzi’s team to get back at them, as in the recent past, the two nations played a semi-final at the COSAFA Regional Tournament held in Durban last September, where Senegal once again got the better of their opponents, curiously by the same score (10-3).
Still, the Ugandans left the tournament consoled with a bronze medal, after defeating the African runners-up, Mozambique by 8-7. It was a big debut for Schirinzi who has been entrusted with the mission of leading the team’s destiny in the various engagements.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, groups A and B are in action. Uganda will face the islanders of Madagascar at 12.30pm (local time), while Egypt will meet champions Senegal (2.00pm). Finally, Morocco and Mozambique will duel it out in Group A at 3.30pm (local time).
What they said
Angelo Schirinzi, Uganda coach
“It wasn’t really a good start for us. We came into this game aware that we would be facing the defending champions and, we also expected to face difficulties and that is realistic. Now we have to think about our next opponents, in this case Madagascar and Egypt. We must beat these opponents to reach the semi-finals”.
Mamadou Diallo, Senegal coach
“I think that it is very important today to enter for the game to win the first game because, I know, a lot of teams are waiting Senegal’s team because Senegal is the champion of Africa. And then every team going to wait us and I tell my players: you have to show the player in the field. Not talking, not saying Senegal is a champion by talking or writing, you have to prove it from the feel and the most important for us is to win the first game and the team win the first game is a very good start. The match wasn’t easy. Nothing is easy because when Senegal play lot of team look to Senegal. Me too I prepared my team and the first thing I told them, don’t take a goal. For me they were supposed to win.”
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)