Senegal defeated host Algeria 3-0 on Tuesday at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers to advance to the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in their history.

The Teranga Cubs had exited the competition at the group stage in each of the previous two occasions they have competed, but this year they have significantly improved, as seen by their second victory in Group A and subsequent increase to six points.

They are the first team to go to the round of eight, while the hosts Algeria must now defeat Congo in their last group encounter in order to automatically advance.

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Senegal’s captain Amara Diouf led the way with a brace and an assist, and the team kept their second straight clean sheet.

At the stroke of halftime, Diouf towered for a header at the backpost after connecting to a Lassana Traore corner, giving Senegal the lead.

Senegal had two of the finest opportunities in the first 45 minutes prior to the goal. Omar Sall was set up in the 16th minute by a fantastic through ball from Mamadou Lamine Sadio, but the goalkeeper’s trailing leg stopped his shot.

Abdelhak Ben Idder of Algeria cleared the ball off the line at the halfway point to block Yaya Dieme’s header from a corner.

Although Algeria started the second half more quickly, Senegal scored their second goal through Diouf’s penalty on the hour mark, delaying Algeria’s chances of tying the score.

As he sprinted down for a through ball, the lanky Sall was brought down by goalkeeper Mastias Hammache, and Diouf converted the resulting penalty kick with ease.

The West Africans controlled the match and won it with five minutes remaining thanks to a close-range goal from replacement Mamadou Sawane, who had been set up by a cutback from his captain Diouf.