The u17 of Senegal boosted confidence ahead of the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations after securing a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in a friendly match played on Thursday in Hammam Lif.
The Young Lions of Teranga claimed the win in a behind-closed-doors encounter, with Cheikh Omar Sy scoring the only goal of the game during the first half. His strike proved decisive as Senegal held on to their advantage until the final whistle.
The match formed part of Senegal’s preparations for the upcoming continental tournament, where the team will hope to build momentum following this encouraging result against North African opposition.
Cheikh Omar Sy broke the deadlock in the 35th minute after a tightly contested opening period. Senegal’s young side managed to maintain control after taking the lead and successfully prevented Tunisia from finding an equaliser.
Despite the narrow scoreline, the result represented a positive outcome for the Senegalese team as they continue fine-tuning preparations ahead of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in 2026.
The friendly was staged in Hammam Lif and took place without spectators, allowing both teams to focus on tactical adjustments and match readiness away from public attention. Such fixtures are often considered an important part of tournament preparation, giving coaching staff the opportunity to assess performances and combinations before competitive action begins.
Senegal appeared organised throughout the contest and showed resilience after taking the lead. Tunisia attempted to respond during the second half, but Senegal’s defence preserved the clean sheet to ensure victory.
The result is expected to provide a morale boost for the Senegalese camp as preparations continue for the continental competition. Winning against a fellow African side in the build-up to a major tournament is likely to strengthen belief within the squad and provide encouragement ahead of tougher tests to come.
The Senegalese Football Federation also highlighted the result on social media following the match. A post from the national team’s official account read: “Africa U-17 Cup of Nations preparations | Senegal claim a friendly win over Tunisia in Hammam Lif. Cheikh Omar Sy scores the only goal of the match. #TUNSEN”.
Thursday’s success means Senegal head into the next phase of their preparations with renewed confidence and positive momentum. While the margin of victory was slim, the team will take encouragement from both the result and their defensive discipline.
For Tunisia, the fixture offered another opportunity to test their own squad ahead of future competitions, although they were unable to overturn Senegal’s first-half lead.
Senegal’s players and coaching staff will now turn their attention to the remaining stages of preparation as they aim to arrive at the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in strong form.
