Senegal booked a dramatic place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025, clinching a nail-biting 4-3 extra-time victory over Italy at the Paradise Arena in Victoria on Thursday.
The West African giants will now face Belarus in the last four on Saturday, aiming to make their first-ever appearance in the final. Their best performance so far remains a fourth-place finish in 2021.
The quarter-final clash with Italy was a rollercoaster encounter filled with momentum shifts. Mamour Diagne opened the scoring for Senegal, but Italy responded in the second period with three goals from Tommaso Fazzini, Emmanuele Zurlo, and Camillo Marchesi, putting the Azzurri in control.
Senegal clawed one back through Sanou Laye Thiaw, narrowing the deficit to 2-3 by the end of the second period. In the final stretch, Ousseynou Faye equalized to force extra time.
Then, with just two seconds remaining before a potential penalty shootout, Diagne struck again—his second of the night; sealing a historic win for Senegal and igniting wild celebrations in the arena. The home crowd in Seychelles passionately backed Senegal, cheering every goal as if it were their own.
Senegal’s next opponents, Belarus, secured their semi-final spot with a gritty 4-3 victory over Iran, led by a brace from Ihar Bryshtsel, proving they’ll be tough opponents.
Elsewhere, Portugal and Brazil complete the final four lineup. Portugal edged Japan 7-6 in a beach soccer classic, leading six times as Japan kept equalizing only running out of time on the sixth occasion
Brazil, the reigning champions, powered past Spain with a commanding 6-0 win, setting up a heavyweight semi-final clash with Portugal.
