Ghana’s U20 side produced a performance of discipline and determination to defeat defending champions Senegal 1-0 in their Group C encounter at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Emmanuel Mensah’s clinical finish proved the difference between the sides in a tightly contested match, as Ghana became the first team in eight years to overcome the Senegalese in open play at the tournament.
The result halts Senegal’s remarkable 12-match unbeaten run in group-stage fixtures – a sequence stretching back to 2015 when they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria.
For Ghana coach Desmond Ofei, the victory represents a significant statement of intent as his team seeks to recapture former glories in this competition.
“We knew what we were up against today,” said Ofei. “Senegal are a powerhouse at this level and their record speaks for itself, but we executed our game plan perfectly.”
The Young Lions of Teranga had previously dominated fixtures against fellow West African Football Union (WAFU) teams, with eight wins, two draws and just two losses from 12 previous meetings – including a 2-0 victory over Ghana in the 2019 edition.
This defeat marks only the fourth time in tournament history that Senegal have failed to win either of their opening two group matches, placing them under significant pressure heading into their final group fixture.
Ghana, meanwhile, find themselves in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages ahead of Thursday’s clash with Central African Republic, where they’ll look to build on this historic triumph.
