Matasi Heroics Fall Short In 10-Man Harambee Stars Collapse To Mane's Senegal

CAIRO, Egypt- Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi heroics were all in vain on Monday night when Harambee Stars capitulated in the second half to slump to a costly 0-3 defeat to Senegal in their final Group C game to leave their hopes of qualifying for the last-16 of the Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hanging by a thread.

Kenya will nervously wait for the completion of the last pool stage matches of Groups D, E and F to find out whether they will squeeze through as one of the four best third placed countries after Algeria, who whipped Tanzania 3-0 in the other encounter and the Lions of Teranga secured the top two automatic slots from Group C.

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Matasi, whose shots-stopping finesse led Kenya to the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title, was in his best form on the night, a first half penalty save from Sadio Mane the highlight of his impressive catalogue.

It was a match where head coach Sebastien Migne's charges came to the party inspired by their comeback 3-2 victory over neighbours Tanzania having surrendered meekly to the Desert Foxes in their Group C opener.

However, the Liverpool star forward was not to be denied, sinking a late second brace after Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring to kill the challenge of the brave Stars who saw defender Philemon Otieno sent off.

Marching orders

The SportPesa Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC defender received his marching orders for a second yellow card that was punished further by the award of the second penalty of the encounter.

It gifted Mane a chance to redeem himself from 12 yards in the 78th to notch his brace after getting his first goal seven minutes earlier to put Senegal 2-0 up.

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The second half collapse was sparked when Sarr beat the seemingly impregnable Matasi with a lofted finish when the keeper collided with his defender Musa Mohammed in the 63rd.

Mane then beat the former Gor captain to a lofted high ball which was cruel to Stars who came close to grabbing a shock opener through a David Odhiambo stinger that was parried over the bar by Senegal keeper, Alfred Gomis.

Despite the deflating sequence of events, Matasi kept his calm to deny Mane his hat-trick as the game wound to a disappointing end that left Kenya ruing their inexperience at this level, having returned to the AFCON after a 15 year absence.

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In the other Group C finale, Algeria made nine changes to the team that beat Kenya and silenced Senegal 1-0 to  join North African rivals Egypt and Morocco as the countries who have completed a clean sweep of victories in the pool stages to underline their status as one of the title favourites.

Taifa Stars were undone by three first half goals in the final quarter where Islam Slimani scored the first in the 34th and five minutes later, Adam Ounas got the first of his brace before the Italian Serie A giants SS Napoli FC sent Tanzani to the break 0-3 down with his second a minute inside time added on to the opening stanza.

Senegal's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Kenya and Senegal at the 30 June Stadium. PHOTO/AFP

Algeria made 11 changes to the team that beat Senegal last week and still beat Tanzania 3-0 in Cairo to top Group C with nine points.

Senegal were runners-up with six points, Kenya third with three and Tanzania, back at the tournament after 39 years, ended pointless.

The qualification of Senegal raised to 10 the number of teams who have secured places in the second round, which kicks off Friday.

Hosts Egypt, surprise side Madagascar, Algeria and Morocco advanced as group winners and Uganda, Nigeria, Senegal and the Ivory Coast as runners-up.

Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo have filled two of the spots reserved for the best four third-place teams.

The remaining six places will be filled Tuesday by the Group E and F winners and runners-up, and two more third-place nations with Kenya and South Africa among the contenders.

With Algeria having qualified and Tanzania eliminated before the final group matches, the focus was on the battle for second place between Senegal and Kenya.

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Mental strength

A war of words between the coaches preceded the game with France-born Kenya handler Migne suggesting Senegal lacked the mental strength to become African champions.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse responded by reminding Migne that his side were ranked 82 places higher in the world and the loss to Algeria was the first in four yrs in Africa.

Kenya were lucky to reach half-time level with Senegal at the June 30 Stadium as apart from the Mane miss, captain Victor Wanyama was not punished for handling in the box.

Matasi also made two great saves, blocking an Idrissa Gueye close-range shot and tipping a Sarr header over via the top of the crossbar.

Kenya came close to snatching the lead against the run of play just past the hour when an Odhiambo snap shot was brilliantly parried by Gomis.

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A minute later and Senegal were ahead as Matasi fell while trying to clear a cross and Sarr turned to fire superbly into the corner of the net.

Mane atoned for his penalty flop by adding a second on 71 minutes, taking advantage of poor defending from Mohamed off a long ball to run through and score. 

Given a second penalty, Mane made no mistake, tucking the ball into the corner despite a brave attempt by the outstanding Matasi to stop it. 

At the Al Salam Stadium, Tanzania contained Algeria for 35 minutes before conceding three goals by half-time with Islam Slimani opening the scoring before Adam Ounas added two.

-Material from AFP used in this report

Algeria's forward Islam Slimani (C) celebrates his goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group C football match between Tanzania and Algeria at the Al Salam Stadium in the Egyptian capital Cairo on July 1, 2019. PHOTO/AFP

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Final AFCON 2019 Group C standings

1. Algeria 9 pts (+6)

2. Senegal 6 pts (+4)

3. Kenya 3 pts (-4)

4. Tanzania 0 pts (-6)