Senegal ready to break new ground after U-17 AFCON triumph

Learn about the nation's coach, star striker and tournament history as they prepare for second appearance at global finals.

Senegal have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ for second consecutive time and will be intent on bettering their performance at Brazil 2019, when they were eliminated in the round of 16.

They head to Indonesia as the reigning African U-17 champions.

11 November Argentina v Senegal (19.00 local time, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium)

14 November Senegal v Poland (16.00 local time, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium)

17 November Senegal v Japan (16.00 local time, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium)

Senegal secured their place in Indonesia by winning the 2023 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. After recording three wins from three in the group stage, they faced South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Victory would ensure at the U-17 World Cup ticket – all four semi-finalists were guaranteed a spot at the global finals – and Senegal promptly racked up a 5-0 success.

A penalty shootout win over Burkina Faso followed before they came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in a dramatic final.

Senegal’s U-17 coach since 2021, Dia was previously a physical education teacher before undertaking his official coaching qualifications.

In 2015, he led the Senegalese team to a gold medal at the African Games in the Republic of Congo.

An immensely talented young striker, Diouf is already Senegal’s youngest-ever full international.

He made his debut for the senior national team aged just 15 years and 94 days in September 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda.

He had previously dazzled during Senegal’s triumphant U-17 AFCON campaign, scoring five goals to finish at the competition’s top scorer.

Diouf broke the record for strikes at a single edition of the tournament – it was previously held by Nigeria superstar Victor Osimhen.

Indonesia 2023 will represent Senegal's second appearance at the U-17 World Cup.

Their debut edition was in 2019, when they qualified from the group stage thanks to impressive victories over USA and the Netherlands, before being eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain.

Senegal are the same group as Japan at the U-17 World Cup, having also been drawn alongside the Asian nation at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ and the U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™.

The clash at Russia 2018 ended in a 2-2 draw, while Japan edged Senegal 1-0 in Argentina.

Source: FIFA