Senegal are through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Seychelles 2025™ after a last-second 4-3 extra-time victory over Italy in a thrilling clash at the Paradise Arena in Victoria on Thursday.
Senegal will face Belarus in the last-4 on Saturday as they seek to reach the final of the global showpiece competition for the first time. Their previous best finish is fourth place in 2021.
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Their clash with Italy was an epic seesaw contest that swung one way and then the next.
Mamour Diagne put Senegal ahead, but the contest swing Italy’s way in the second period as they scored goals through Tommaso FazzinI, Emmanuele Zurlo and Camillo Marchesi.
A strike from Sanou Laye Thiaw kept Senegal in the contest, but they trailed 2-3 going into the final period.
Ousseynou Faye sent the game into extra-time when he found an equaliser, and with just two seconds on the clock before penalties, Diagne bagged his second to send Senegal into the semi-finals and spark scenes of celebration.
The crowd at the Paradise Arena was behind the African side and cheered every goal as if the hosts Seychelles had scored it.
Belarus edged Iran 4-3 to book their semi-final place as Ihar Bryshtsel netted a brace. They will be a formidable opponent for the Senegalese.
Portugal scraped past Japan 7-6 in one of the all-time classic FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ games.
Portugal led six times in the game but on the first five occasions Japan hit back to equalise. On the sixth, they ran out of time.
Portugal will face defending champions Brazil in then semi-finals after the latter demolished Spain 6-0.
