Liverpool star Sadio Mane made up for a missed first half penalty to help Senegal secure a last 16 spot at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Kenya on Tuesday in Cairo.
Mane had seen a poorly struck spot kick saved by Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi in the 29th minute as the Teranga Lions were left frustrated after 45 minutes with the scores still goalless.
Highlight of the missed PENALTY by Sadio MANE of #Senegal against #HarambeeStars #KENSEN #AFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/ukUywzd5Jl
— Cephas TENDEREZA – MMW (@CephasTendereza) July 1, 2019
Before then, it was looking like a combination of defensive heroics from the Kenyans and profligacy in front of goal on Senegal’s part would give fans another shocker at AFCON 2019.
But Senegal’s pressure on the Kenya goal finally paid off three minutes after the hour mark thanks to an eye-catching strike from the impressive Ismaila Sarr.
Senegal’s number 18 took advantage of a defensive mix-up to send a volley into an open goal to finally break Kenya’s resistance.
68" | Kenya 0-1 Senegal
GOAL! AFter many heroics, Patrick Matasi finally gives in to goal after miscommunication with Philemon Otieno aiding Ismaila Sarr to get the opening goal #AFCON2019 #KENSEN #KenyaVsSenegal pic.twitter.com/ttVvAQOhRT
— #AFCON2019 (@ourAfricanFooty) July 1, 2019
Mane then got his first goal of the competition after latching on to a long clearance by Senegal keeper Alfred Gomis to put his country 2-0 up after 72 minutes.
Sadio Mane, scores from a LFC-esque counter attack to get Senegal in to the knockout stage of the Afcon ??!!pic.twitter.com/uFwN0b4Y93
— LFC (@RockyKlopp) July 1, 2019
And the 27-year-old Senegal captain got his second of the game just three minutes later after Sarr was brought down in the area by Philemon Otieno.
Otieno was sent off for the foul after receiving his second yellow card, with Mane making no mistake from the spot this time to put the west Africans 3-0 up and seal what was eventually a comfortable win.
83" | Kenya 0-3 Senegal
Sadio Mane gets the thirs for Senegal from the penalty spot. Matasi gets the direction right but couldn't stretch long enough#AFCON2019 #KENSEN pic.twitter.com/ejqPfwRMOe
— #AFCON2019 (@ourAfricanFooty) July 1, 2019
The victory saw Mane and co finish Group C in second place with six points from three matches behind Algeria who coasted to a 3-0 win over Emmanuel Amuneke’s Tanzania in the other group encounter played on Tuesday night.
As a result of Senegal’s finish in the group, a round of 16 date with Uganda on July 5 awaits Aliou Cisse’s men in their quest to win a first ever AFCON title.
Kenya on their part are on the brink of elimination, though, still have a slim hope of reaching the last 16 should results from the final matches in Groups E and F go in their favour.
As it stands, Kenya is the fourth best third placed team in all six groups, but would need for no more than one team from each of those groups to win their matches on July 2 in order to sneak into the last 16.
Tough ask but football can be dramatic and makes for an exciting final set of group matches to look forward too, as South Africa would also be looking out for results to go their way in those matches as well.
For now, how did you rate Senegal’s performance against the Kenyans? Share your views with us in the comment section.