AFCON 2022: Mane Scores As Senegal Book Last 16 Ticket, Morocco Beat Malawi To Advance
26th January 2022
Morocco will now face Wednesday’s winner between Egypt and Ivory Coast
- Liverpool star Sadio Mane ended a 243-minute Senegal goal drought by scoring in a 2-0 win over nine-man Cape Verde in a fiery Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in Bafoussam on Tuesday
- In the opposite dugout was Aliou Cisse, a Cup of Nations runner-up as a player in 2002 and as a coach in 2019.
- Later in the day, Morocco came back from a goal down to beat Malawi 2-1 to also book their ticket for the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals
Liverpool star Sadio Mane ended a 243-minute Senegal goal drought by scoring in a 2-0 win over nine-man Cape Verde in a fiery Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in Bafoussam on Tuesday.
The goal came on 63 minutes after the islanders had goalkeeper Josimar ‘Vozinha’ Dias and midfielder Patrick Andrade sent off.
Mane was forced to leave the field soon after breaking the deadlock as his face was swollen following a collision with Vozinha, which led to the second red card.
Bamba Dieng, who replaced Mane, added a second goal two minutes into added time after a breakaway left a single Cape Verde defender facing two Senegalese attackers.
Senegal, seeking to win the flagship African competition for the first time after twice finishing runners-up, will meet Mali or Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in the quarter-finals.
Before the kick-off, the teams and match officials stood still and silent in memory of the eight people who died in a crush at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde on Monday before Cameroon defeated the Comoros.
Cape Verde welcomed back head coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito, who had to watch the group stage in the island nation as he recovered from coronavirus.
In the opposite dugout was Aliou Cisse, a Cup of Nations runner-up as a player in 2002 and as a coach in 2019.
Later in the day, Morocco came back from a goal down to beat Malawi 2-1 to also book their ticket for the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals.
Malawi got off the mark with a ridiculous effort from Gabadinho Mhango in the 7th minute of the game, giving the game all signs of being a banging encounter.
Youssef En-Nesyri pulled one back for the North Africans with three minutes left until half-time, setting up a nervy second half.
Achraf Hakimi gave the Atlas Lions the lead in the 70th minute with a stunning freekick that flew into the top corner, giving Malawy goalkeeper Charles Thomu no chance.
Morocco will now face Wednesday’s winner between Egypt and Ivory Coast, while Malawi should be going home with their heads held high after reaching the Afcon knockout phase for the first time ever.