A Sadio Mane late coverted penalty saw Senegal kick-start their AFCON race on a perfect note. the game was 0-0 through out the 90 minutes of play. But the Liverpool star player used a seven minutes additional minute added to give his side the lead.
Sadio Mane’s Late Goal Ensures Senegal Perfect Afcon Start
Senegal is now topping Group B with three points awaiting the next game which will be later today. The game which was played in Bafoussam brought pain to the Zimbabwe players as they thought they have held Senegal which is one of the favourites to win the tournament.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Kelvin Madzongwe was adjudged to have handled as he turned his back on a strike from substitute Pape Gueye. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane rifled home to give Senegal the perfect start to the group.
The game had the likes of Koulidalou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy out due to covid-19 complications. Senegal were only able to name 17 players out of a squad of 28 because of several Covid cases. Mane himself had been denied earlier in the half when shooting straight at Zimbabwe goalkeeper Petros Mhari, who impressed, after wriggling into space in the box.
The West Africans started the lunchtime kick-off in impressive fashion, with Bayern Munich’s Bouna Sarr striking a low shot just inches wide before Keita Balde also failed to hit the target when he had time on the ball. Cameroon stared the tournament as they came from behind to beat Bokena Faso in Group A thanks to Vincent Aboubakar brace.
