Senegal’s U20 Women’s National Team, the Lioncelles faced a resounding defeat at the hands of Ghana, sealing their fate and extinguishing hopes of a historic qualification for the U20 Women’s World Cup. The second leg of the crucial encounter ended with a 5-1 victory for Ghana, amplifying their dominance after securing a 2-0 win in the first leg.
Despite a promising start to the match, where Aissatou Chris Ba netted a goal for the Lioncelles within the first four minutes, the Ghanaian team quickly responded.
The Black Princess, eyeing a remarkable seventh consecutive U20 Women’s World Cup appearance, displayed superior skill and determination. Mafia Nyame leveled the score in the 18th minute, followed by Beline Nyarko, who secured the lead in the 23rd minute.
As the match progressed, Ghana’s prowess became increasingly evident. In the second half, they further solidified their position with three additional goals.
Tracey Twum found the net in the 67th minute, followed by another goal from Nyarko in the 72nd minute, and Salamatu Abdulai sealed the victory with a goal in the 78th minute.
The Lioncelles, guided by coach Mbayang Thiam, found themselves outplayed and ultimately eliminated from the qualification race.
The defeat was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow for Senegal, considering their commendable journey in the earlier rounds of the U20 World Cup qualifiers.
Notably, they secured victories against Benin and Uganda, setting the stage for a historic qualification attempt.
Despite the disappointment, the Senegal U20 Women’s National Team can take pride in their accomplishments, and the experience gained from this campaign is expected to be invaluable for future endeavors.
The resilience displayed by the team, led by Wolimata Ndiaye, serves as a foundation for growth and development in upcoming competitions.
As they regroup and assess the journey that brought them so close to a World Cup berth, the Lioncelles undoubtedly remain a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Après leur defaite 0-2 à Thies, nos lioncelles U20 s’inclinent de nouveau face au Ghana (5-1) cet apres-midi à Kumasi. C’est la fin de l’aventure pour les jeunes sénégalaises qui disputeront pas le Mondial de leur catégorie. #GhanaSenegal #WWCU20Q pic.twitter.com/NvRB6Zdeqs
— FSF (@Fsfofficielle) January 21, 2024
