2025 Dakar en Jeux: Brazil beat Portugal to win FIFA U17 men's futsal title; hosts Senegal top women's event

Brazil beat Portugal 3-1 in the men's final of the 2025 FIFA U17 futsal tournament on Sunday, 9 November in Dakar, after a lively and intense match.

The Seleção, who have won six World Cups at senior level, reasserted their dominance in the sport during Senegal's first-ever international competition, held as part of the 2025 Dakar en Jeux festival in preparation for next year’s Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games,

Portugal, meanwhile, were hoping for another upset after beating the South Americans 4-2 on penalties the previous day, and they were first to score through a well taken strike from Martim Gonçalves Da Silva.

After several goal attempts, the Brazilians equalised in the 17th minute through Eric Henrique Winter.

After halftime, Brazil Brazil looked sharper, and their goal-scoring star Jhon Lucas Domingos De Lima put them ahead in the 21st minute. Júlio César Souza de Oliveira added the winner ten minutes later.

"I am so happy for this win, and my performance here. As always,I am already thinking about next year's goal, when I come back here again. I am always wanting more," said Souza de Oliveira.

Futsal: Meet Brazilian goal-scoring 'Spider-man' Jhon Lucas Domingos de Lima

Mareme Niang leads hosts Senegal to women's title

In the match for third place, meanwhile, Morocco beat hosts Senegal 14-7, denying the home side their first win of the tournament.

Captain Hamza El Ahmadi, who scored twice, led the Atlas Lions to their second victory in the competition.

El Ahmadi, who has already featured for Morocco’s U18 futsal team, was also instrumental at U17 level when Morocco won the Castro del Río International Futsal Tournament held last July in Córdoba, Spain.

Back then, the North African side strung together three consecutive wins over hosts Spain, France, and the USA to claim the trophy.

In the women’s event, Mareme Niang scored a hat-trick as Senegal A defeated Namibia 6-1, to the delight of hundreds of mainly young local fans who flocked to the Dakar Arena.

The 13-year-old ensured her name appeared on the scoresheet in each of her team’s three games at the event.

Mariama Faty added two more goals, with Maman Ciumba Diouf scoring one, to ensure the host finished top of the group after three wins.

“I scored many goals here and three today...so I am very, very proud as this is just a start as it's my first competition.

“I am really looking forward to the Youth Olympic Games next year and I know that this will be better because ill be even better prepared then,” said a delighted Niang, who fired two quick goals seconds into Sunday's game.

Despite her parents' wishes for her to play basketball, Niang, who took up football when she was just six, is happy that she was able to maintain her passion. She hopes she can rise and emulate her idol Iliman Ndiaye, the attacking Everton midfielder who has even inspired her favourite siren goal celebration.

“My idol is Senegalese player Iliman Ndiaye, who inspires me a lot. I enjoy watching him and even celebrating like him which is what I do after every score, but today I tried out something different as one of my girlfriends asked me to celebrate differently in her honour.”

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