Senegal’s U18 national team secured a confident 3-1 win over Argentina in their final fixture at the UEFA Friendship Tournament, held on Monday, 10 June, in Nyon, Switzerland.
The result marked a positive conclusion to the Lionceaux’s campaign following a challenging group stage.
Argentina struck first in the classification match, capitalising on a penalty opportunity in the 40th minute to take a 1-0 lead into halftime. But Senegal responded with conviction after the break.
Ibrahima Manga levelled the score in the 53rd minute, setting the stage for a strong second-half performance.
Momentum continued to shift in favour of the West African side when Mamadou Cissé put Senegal ahead in the 61st minute.
With Argentina unable to recover, Bamba Guèye added a third goal for Senegal in the 75th minute, securing a deserved victory and an encouraging end to their tournament journey.
The win helped to partially ease the sting of an earlier 5-2 defeat to Portugal, which had dashed any hopes of reaching the tournament’s final rounds.
Prior to that setback, Senegal had impressed with a dominant 4-0 opening win against Uruguay and a thrilling 3-3 draw with Japan.
These results saw them finish third in Group B, with two wins, one draw, and one loss over the course of the competition.
Despite not advancing beyond the group stage, the Lionceaux leave Switzerland with valuable international experience and signs of promise for the future.
The team demonstrated resilience and attacking flair throughout the tournament, particularly in their comeback performance against Argentina.
Head coach Pape Ibrahima Faye and his squad can take pride in the growth shown during the week-long event, which brought together some of the world’s most promising young talents.
The UEFA U18 Friendship Tournament, known for promoting youth development and international cooperation, offered Senegal a platform to test their mettle against strong opposition.
With standout contributions from players like Manga, Cissé, and Guèye, the Senegalese youth team underscored its depth and potential, proving capable of competing on a global stage.
Their performance against Argentina highlighted both tactical discipline and individual quality—an encouraging sign for the nation’s footballing future.
As the team returns home, the focus will now shift to building on the lessons learned in Switzerland.
The tournament provided a glimpse of what lies ahead for Senegalese football at the youth level, where investment in talent development continues to yield promising results.
While the Lionceaux may not have lifted the trophy, they leave Nyon with pride and renewed motivation, having demonstrated character and quality against elite international opponents.
