Senegal have once again broken Moroccan hearts on their own turf, edging the hosts 7-6 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, booking their place in Sunday’s final against Tanzania.

The fiercely contested semi-final was played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, where Senegal drew first blood through Mouhamed Wagner in the 23rd minute after a scramble inside Morocco’s penalty area. The Young Lions of Teranga then dug in defensively, frustrating the hosts and their vociferous home crowd for long stretches of the game.

Morocco, tactically disciplined and well-organised throughout, pressed hard for an equaliser and eventually found it through captain Ismail El Aoud in the ninth minute of stoppage time, converting from a rebound after his initial effort was saved, forcing the tie into a penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Assane Sarr was the hero for the Young Lions of Teranga, producing crucial saves in a tense shootout to end Morocco’s hopes of winning the title on home soil. The drama continued until the very last kick, with Morocco’s tenth penalty taken by Ellaky saved by the Senegalese goalkeeper, sealing a memorable victory for the defending champions.

The result carries added significance given the bitter history between the two nations at this level. Senegal had beaten Morocco 2-1 in the final of the 2023 U-17 AFCON, denying the Atlas Cubs the title, and Morocco had entered this tournament as hosts and defending champions, with their own supporters hoping for revenge in Rabat.Instead, Senegal delivered another crushing blow, eliminating the hosts on their own patch for the second time in three years.

The aftermath of the match was not without controversy, however, as CAF is expected to review incidents involving Senegal’s players and team officials amid reports of provocative celebrations directed at home supporters following the final whistle.

For Senegal, there is also the broader backdrop of a boardroom dispute over the senior U-17 title, with the Senegalese Football Federation having appealed a CAF ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The squad has defiantly continued to parade the trophy while awaiting the final verdict, adding extra intensity to Thursday’s encounter.

Senegal will now face Tanzania in Sunday’s final, with the East Africans having also defied the odds to reach the showpiece. The Young Lions of Teranga will be overwhelming favourites to claim the title and further cement their status as the continent’s dominant force at this age group.