Sidy Ndiaye targets Senegal's CAN U23 qualification

Sidy Ndiaye has set qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations Under-23 tournament as Senegal’s priority after the team’s two-match success against Gambia. The Teungueth FC forward said the victories offered useful preparation, but also stressed that the squad still has substantial work ahead before the competitive qualifiers.

Senegal completed the double over Gambia with a 2-1 win on Monday at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium. Ndiaye scored once and created the other goal, contributing directly to the second victory in the series. The result gives the U23 side a positive run of two wins as it continues preparations.

Ndiaye said further training camps will be important before Senegal has to represent the country in qualification. He called on the players to commit fully when those matches arrive and identified reaching the CAN U23 tournament as the group’s objective.

The former Zamalek player also acknowledged the challenge facing a category that has gone several years without playing. He said the coach regularly reminds the squad that it must meet that challenge and rebuild confidence in Senegal’s U23 team. For Ndiaye, the friendlies have therefore provided progress, but not a conclusion, with improvement still required before the qualifiers.