Senegal steam into FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 semi-finals

Senegal will take on Belarus in the semi-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 on Saturday, as they look to reach the final of the prestigious global tournament for the first time. Their previous best finish came in 2021, when they placed fourth.

Senegal booked their place in the last four after a dramatic and thrilling clash with Italy. The match was a true rollercoaster, filled with momentum shifts and high-stakes drama.

Mamour Diagne opened the scoring to give Senegal an early lead. However, Italy stormed back in the second period with goals from Tommaso Fazzini, Emmanuele Zurlo, and Camillo Marchesi, taking a 3-1 advantage. A strike from Sanou Laye Thiaw pulled one back for Senegal, keeping their hopes alive as they entered the final period trailing 2-3.

Ousseynou Faye leveled the score in the third period, sending the match into extra time. Then, with just two seconds remaining before the game would go to penalties, Diagne struck again to net the dramatic winner and send Senegal into the semi-finals, sparking wild celebrations.

The crowd at Paradise Arena rallied behind the African side, cheering each Senegal goal as if the host nation, Seychelles, had scored it themselves.

Senegal’s opponents, Belarus, earned their semi-final spot with a narrow 4-3 win over Iran, thanks to a brace from Ihar Bryshtsel. The Eastern Europeans will pose a formidable challenge.

In the other semi-final, Portugal will meet defending champions Brazil. Portugal edged Japan 7-6 in what many are calling one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history. Portugal led six times, only for Japan to equalize five times. On the sixth occasion, Japan simply ran out of time.

Brazil, meanwhile, delivered a commanding performance to crush Spain 6-0, underlining their status as tournament favorites.

Cover Credits - CAFonline.com