Senegal, reigning African champion, fell against Ghana (0 – 1) and the DR Congo takes the lead in group C after its success against the Central African Republic (3 – 1), during the 2e CAN U20 day – Egypt 2025.
In a group C where everyone left a draw, a goal everywhere, during the first day, the second round disputed this Monday, May 5 allowed the DR Congo to take the power of group C of the CAN U20 after having dominated the Central African Republic (3 – 1), followed by Ghana, a fall of Senegal, defending champion (1 – 0), who sees his chances of going to the quarter -finals.
The first meeting brought the DR Congo to the Central African Republic at the new Suez stadium. The Central Africans will not take long to surprise the leopards juniors from the (10 ‘) thanks to the left side Raphaël Nolan first Nzabakomada Yakoma, confirming their good performance against Senegal in the first match.
The Congolese reaction comes in the quarter of an hour of play on a Tony Talasi strike which came close to the frame of goalkeeper Malimoto Boarnages. The same Talasi will reoffend two minutes later, but it is again counted by the Central African goalkeeper.
By dint of insisting, the Congolese will obtain a penalty, confirmed by the Var, that the unfortunate Talasi is missing, but quickly taken up by his teammate Noé Ernest Makanza Mbeleba (42 ‘) who returns the two teams to the locker room on a parity score (1-1).
Upon recovery, the stirring Makanza offered himself a double by taking up a balloon pushed by goalkeeper Boarnages on a strike from Ibrahim Matobo (50 ‘). In the process, the leopardeaux dig the gap of a well-placed head of Samuel Ntanda-Lusika, following a center of Messy Manitu (59 ‘), and could have weighed down the note if Talasi, once again unlucky, and Daniel Tshilanda had been more skilled in front of the opposing cage.
Remaining concentrated and disciplined on the ground, the men of Guy Bukasa have let nothing pass, not even the last skirmishes launched at the end of the game by a Central African team unable to raise his pace at the level of his opponent.
In the end, the victory of the DRC does not suffer from any dispute, and it will be enough from the teammates of Mubundu Manitu in their last match against Senegal to reach their goal: to go to the quarter -finals.
In the shock of this group C between Senegal and Ghana, the last word returned to the Black Satellites on a single achievement inscribed in the quarter of an hour by Emmanuel Mensah who took advantage of a defensive error by Serigne Fallou Diouf.
It must be said that the lion cubs, title holders, came across a solid and well organized opponent in his three compartments. Before the break, some Senegalese holes are reported, notably by Yaya Diémé, but without result.
The changes made in the second half by Serigne Saliou Dia, with the incorporation of Abdourahmane Dia and Clayton Diandy, shaken the Senegalese attack a little, like this strike of Diandy masterfully diverted by the Ghanaian goalkeeper Gidios Aseako (51 ‘).
Despite some final assaults, the result will stay there, and Senegal finds himself back to the wall by being condemned to win his last match against the leader, the DR Congo if he wants to pass in the second round, while hoping for a faux-pas de Ghana to whom it suffices to qualify.
On the program of the day of tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, the suspense will be there with the two games in group A where Zambia, which imperatively needs a victory to stay alive, will be opposed to Tanzania, red lantern, while the Sierra Léone, leader-surrise, will face South Africa, third with 3 points and 2 games, also in search of qualification.
As for the host country, Egypt, second with 4 points and 3 games played, it will be at rest during this day.
