From ELIAS CHIPEPO-

In Brazzaville

SENEGAL coach Saliou Dia says winning the men’s football tournament at the Congo Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games (AAG) has given his side confidence to go on and win the CAF Africa Under-23 Championship.
A slender 1-0 win over Burkina Faso saw Senegal win the tightly contested AAG men’s football final played at the Alphonse Masamba Deba Stadium to warm up for the continental under-23 championship.
The hosts are in Group A with Zambia, South Africa and Tunisia while Group B has Egypt, Algeria, Mail and Nigeria at the tournament that will run from November 28 to December 12.
Top two sides from each group will advance to the semi finals with the top three teams qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games while the fourth placed side will battle an Asian side in a play-off.
Dia said in an interview that playing Zambia and South Africa will not be easy as the two sides have got a strong youth base that has seen the two countries qualifying for the Africa Junior and Youth Championship.
He also singled out Tunisia as strong opponents but that playing at home will give Senegal the advantage to win the group and tournament.
“Of course winning this tournament (AAG) gives us confidence to perform well at the tournament we shall be hosting. I have got a good side and I believe they will be up to the task,” he said.
Zambia missed out on qualifying for the AAG finals after losing the final leg 2-1 to Nigeria, who were eliminated in the semi-finals by Burkina Faso to finish third and settle for bronze.
Dia said he was expecting a tough competition as qualifying for the Olympic Games was at stake.
“Zambia and South Africa have strong youth sides that have been qualifying for the Under-17 and 20 competitions and I believe that makes them strong sides and of course Tunisia is also a good and strong side that wants to qualify for the Olympics,” he said.
Dia vowed to strengthen his squad by summoning atleast six to five foreign based players to ensure Senegal wins the tournament and qualifies for the Olympic Games to be held in Brazil.
Zambia will be seeking to qualify for the Olympics having last made an appearance at the Seoul Games in 1988.
Meanwhile, on the field of play, Mooussa Sedyi scored the only goal two minutes into the game after finishing off from close range after Burkina goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi spilled a Cheikhou Dieng cross into Sedyi’s path.
Ghana won the women final after beating Cameroun 1-0 courtesy of a Portia Boakye stunning strike in the 88th minute. The goal came minutes after Ghana’s Agness Aduako’s penalty was saved by Isabelle Mambingo.