FIFA U-17 World Cup Participants Profile 2023: Senegal, Mission Continues After African Champion U-17

The Senegal U-17 national team is ready to continue their mission at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jakarta. (FIFA)

Senegal left for Indonesia at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup with strong capital as the champion of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup. Senegal is also ready to continue the U-17 World Cup mission with the target of winning.

Senegal is in the deadly group. They competed with elite teams Argentina, Poland, and Japan in Group D. They started the group stage on November 11 at Jalak Harupat Stadium, Soreang, Bandung, West Java.

Senegal's inaugural match against Argentina which was then followed by a match against Poland, three days later. The final match of the group phase will meet Japan which will be held on November 17, 2023 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium starting at 16.00 WIB.

The Indonesian U-17 World Cup event, became Senegal's second participation in the U-17 level tournament. Senegal qualified for the second time in a row.

And this time they are determined to improve performance, because in the 2019 edition in Brazil, they were eliminated in the round of 16. The U-17 Africa Cup of Nations defending title became a strong enough asset for them to start a tournament in Indonesia.

Senegal secured his place in Indonesia with the status of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations winners. They wiped out three matches in the group stage, and faced South Africa in the quarter-finals.

The victory obtained ensures that the U-17 World Cup ticket is in hand after four semifinalists are guaranteed to enter the finals.

Senegal won 5-0 in a match that ended in a penalty shootout over Burkina Faso and managed to bounce back from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in a dramatic final match.

At the 2023 U-17 World Cup, Senegal was raised by Serign Saliou. He has been in charge since 2021. Saliou himself was a sports teacher, before officially participating in coaching qualifications. In 2015, he led the Senegal team to win a gold medal at the African Games which was held in the Republic of Congo.

The Senegal squad in Indonesia has a very talented young striker, Amara Diouf.

As a talented young footballer, Diouf is noted to have become Senegal's youngest international player. He made his debut for the senior national team at the age of 15 years 94 days in September 2023.

Diouf entered as a substitute in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, when Senegal fought Rwanda in the match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Successfully performing stunningly during the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal's tournament with a win-packed match, Diouf scored five goals. The scorer that led him to become the competition's top scorer.

Diouf broke the record number of goals scored in a tournament edition, previously held by Nigerian superstar Victor Osimhen.

Currently Diouf is eager to bring Senegal's U-17 squad to improve their score at the U-17 World Cup with a record of achievements.

The 2023 U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, will be Senegal's second appearance at the U-17 World Cup.

Senegal's debut was obtained in 2019, when they managed to escape the group stage thanks to an impressive victory over the United States and the Netherlands. But four years ago they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain.

Senegal will be in the same group as Japan in the 2023 U-17 World Cup. They also recorded a group with one of the Asian representatives at the 2018 FIFA Russia World Cup and 2023 FIFA U-20 Argentina World Cup.

In the tournaments in Russia 2018, Senegal and Japan ended in a 2-2 draw, while Japan beat Senegal 1-0 in a tournament held in Argentina.