After they finished 2nd in the U-20 AFCON, the Young Scorpions won their first U-20 World Cup match since 2007, defeating Honduras 2-1 at the Mendoza Stadium on Monday.

Adama Bojang’s brace fired The Gambia to a 2-1 win over Honduras in their Argentina 2023 curtain-raiser.

The Gambia 2-1 Honduras

Goals: Bojang (1, 84), Aceituno (5)

The Gambia defeated Honduras 2-1 in an entertaining game at Mendoza Stadium in Group F of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™.

A lightning-fast start saw The Gambia take the lead after no more than 20 seconds when Adama Bojang rifled home a stunning long-range effort. Honduras responded four minutes later when Marco Aceituno headed home to an inviting Isaac Castillo centre.

The Young Scorpions almost retook the lead midway through the second half, when Bojang burst beyond Honduras’s backline and skipped around goalkeeper Juergen Garcia. Still, Geremy Rodas did exceptionally well to get back and clear his effort off the line.

Bojang would eventually break through again. Garcia did well to save a low header from the forward, but he was on hand to turn home the rebound and fire The Gambia back in front.

Honduras thought lightning had struck twice when Daniel Carter headed in just four minutes later, but replays showed the substitute was marginally offside and the goal was chalked off.

The Gambia and Honduras will return to Group F action on Thursday against France and Korean Republic, respectively.

The stat

• 20 seconds

Adama Bojang’s strike after just 20 seconds was the quickest goal scored at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the fourth fastest in the tournament’s history.

Amadou Sagna’s effort for Senegal against Tahiti after just nine seconds at Poland 2019 remains the quickest.

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Nigeria U20 secured a 2-1 comeback win over Dominican Rep. to get their World Cup campaign to a bright start in Group D on Sunday.

An own goal from Guillermo De Peno and second-half Samson Lawal’s strike completed Nigeria’s comeback against FIFA U-20 World Cup newcomers Dominican Republic at Mendoza Stadium.

Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Republic

Goals: Azcona pen (23), De Peno OG (31), Lawal (71)

Nigeria came from behind to defeat Dominican Republic in their FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ opener at Mendoza Stadium.

The Dominican Republic, playing in their first-ever FIFA match at any level, took the lead after 23 minutes when Benjamin Fredrick was adjudged to have fouled Guillermo De Peno inside the area. Captain Edison Azcona took responsibility from the spot to fire home his nation’s maiden strike.

Nigeria levelled soon after, though, when goalkeeper Xavier Valdez failed to claim a long throw which De Peno inadvertently flicked into his own net. Valdez was left bloodied by the collision, but he recovered quickly to deny the dangerous Jude Sunday soon after with a fine diving save.

The Flying Eagles continued to push in the second half and completed the comeback with 20 minutes to go, as Samson Lawal pounced on a poor Israel Boatwright back-pass to slot beyond Valdez.

Nigeria and the Dominican Republic will return to U-20 World Cup action on Wednesday against Italy and Brazil, respectively.

The stat

5 Nigeria have now scored in five opening-day fixtures in a row at the U-20 World Cup since a 1-0 defeat to Venezuela at Egypt in 2009.

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At a jam-packed Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, Samadou Sawane headed the decisive winner minutes from time as Senegal scored twice in four minutes.

The West Africa giants come from a goal down to beat Morocco 2-1 to clinch their first-ever TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in a dramatic finale on Friday.

Skipper Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal had given Morocco a 14th-minute lead, one they kept until the 79th minute when Serigne Falou Diouf scored a VAR-awarded penalty.

Sawane towered the entire defence to head home four minutes later, completing the hard-earned turnaround for the Teranga Cubs.

A clean sweep for Senegal as they have now won a third consecutive continental title within four months, their team of locally based players having won the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) title in February at the same venue of their conquest on Friday, while they also won the U20 AFCON title in Egypt in March.

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Say hello to the 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 medalists 👏 pic.twitter.com/UpTDs7UwZL

— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 🏆 (@CAF_Online) May 20, 2023

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