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Sport

2019 AFCON: Senegal claim semi-final spot with laboured 1-0 win

Senegal
Cairo, July 10, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Senegal’s Idrissa Gana Gueye scored 20 minutes from time for a 1-0 win over Benin Republic to take them through as expected to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals.

However, in spite of Benin finishing with 10 men, they still managed to make it a  largely laboured affair for Senegal.

Gana Gueye’s goal was one of the few highlights at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium with the midfielder setting up the move and then finishing much to the relief of Africa’s top-ranked team.

He had possession just outside the centre circle, passed the ball directly forward to Sadio Mane.

Then, he sprinted upfield to virtually steal the ball off his team mate and tuck away a neat finish.

Senegal must now wait until Thursday to find out whether they meet either Madagascar or Tunisia in Sunday’s semi-final.

Gana Gueye might have had a second goal some eight minutes from time with a similar surging run through the midfield.

But he was pulled back on the edge of the Benin penalty area by defender Olivier Verdon who was promptly sent off.

Senegal created the better chances in the contest but those expecting a dominant showing against a team 66 places below them in the FIFA world rankings were left disappointed.

A combination of spirited defending from Benin and unusually tepid attacking from Senegal kept the game goalless until the 70th minute breakthrough.

Mane had the ball in the net twice but was offside on both occasions, verified by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

The technology was being used in the tournament for the first time from the quarter-final stage.

The Liverpool FC forward also had an effort cleared off the line three minutes after Gana Gueye’s goal.

There were several goalmouth scrambles that provided Benin with nervy moments but Senegal were unable to find the net.

Timely tackles from Verdon and defensive partner Moise Adilehou kept the Senegal attack at bay and the underdogs in the contest.

Benin had a couple of chances, both falling to 34-year-old striker Mickael Pote, who was narrowly wide with a cheeky backheel in the 26th minute.

He should have scored straight after halftime but hit a tame effort straight at goalkeeper Alfred Gomis.

But there was to be no repeat for the small west African country of their heroics in the previous round when they eliminated Morocco in a penalty shootout.

Senegal will feature in the semi-finals for a fourth time but on the first occasion since 2006.

Their best Cup of Nations achievement was finishing runners-up in 2002.(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Republic of Benin seeks partnership with Nigeria to develop youth, sports sector

NAN-S-22
Partnership
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Sept. 14, 2017 (NAN) The Republic of Benin on Thursday in Abuja expressed its willingness to have a strong partnership with Nigeria in the area of youth and sports development.

Ambassador Paulette Yekpe, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, said this was now necessary because the country was now laying a lot of emphasis on developing the youth and sports sector.

Yekpe, during a courtesy call on Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, said Republic of Benin has discovered that the youth and sports sub-sectors were inseparable.

She said the objective of her visit was to discuss with the Nigerian Minister ways to strengthen the relationship between both countries, especially in the area of youth and sports development.

“Our government is putting a lot of emphasis in the development of youth and sports, because it is difficult to disassociate one from the other.

“We know the future of a nation lies with the youths and my main goal here is to do everything possible to strengthen the relationship between your ministry and that of Republic of Benin.

“We see Nigeria as our big brother and we will like to get closer to you, so as to learn the secrets of your success in the area of youth and sports development in the country.

“I have been in Nigeria for seven months now and I must tell you that apart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youths and Sports is the first I have visited.

“That should speak volumes of the importance my country attaches to your ministry,” the ambassador said.

Dalung, in his response, said he was overwhelmed by the ambassador’s visit, adding that the issue of youth and sports development was of utmost importance to the future of any nation.

“I am highly overwhelmed by Her Excellency’s visit and this is because as Africans we believe in the spirit of brotherhood and fraternity.

“While other classical philosophies depend solely on wealth and other economic relationships to determine the extent to which they relate with others, in Africa the greatest heritage we have is brotherhood.

“We believe strongly in our relationship with our brothers and neighbours, and of course the Republic of Benin is one of the countries Nigeria has related with for a very long period of time.

“I think it’s not a misplaced priority for your country to be eager to invest in youth and sports development, because there is no society that will make meaningful progress if it does not consider investing more in this area,’’ he said.

The minister also said the level of development of today’s youths determines the quality of leaders of tomorrow.

“So, if we want a better future we must give more attention to the younger generation.

“Sadly, the challenging economic realities have made it impossible for most African countries to target youth and sports development effectively,’’ he pointed out.

Dalung however expressed Nigeria’s desire to consolidate relationship with Benin in the area of youth and sports development, saying it would go a long way in tackling cross-border crimes.

“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment and to also assure you that we will be ready to partner with you in the area of youth and sports development.

“Even though there is an existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Benin, but we will with time also revisit this agreement and look at areas which require updating.

“I believe this will go a long way in strengthening the national security of both countries and also limit migration as well as control cross-border crimes being perpetrated by our youths.

“It will also help to create social stability, because it will strengthen and encourage young people in both countries to relate freely and above all strengthen their spirit of patriotism,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Republic of Benin are Nigeria’s west African neighbours.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)