The Teranga Lions of Senegal continue their perfect start in the ongoing Cameroon 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Group I with a third straight win.
A 2-0 victory over Guinea Bissau was enough to seal the three points for the Teranga Lions at the Lat Dior stadium in Thies on Wednesday.
Liverpool striker Sadio Mane scored from the spot just before the break, and Opa Nguette added a second-half goal as Senegal gathered their ninth point to consolidate their grip on the group’s summit.
Aliou Cisse troops started the game on a high note and had their first sight at goal through Ismaila Sarr after 14 minutes.
Guinea Bissau who is eyeing a third consecutive AFCON appearance had their first chance via Piqueti Silva after 25 minutes but found the safe hands of Senegal’s Edouard Mendy.
Silva could have opened the score for the visitors after 34 minutes, but his shot missed the target by a small margin.
And at the brink of halftime, Senegal had a penalty for a foul on Sarr inside the area. Mane made no mistake from the spot as the Teranga Lions went to halftime leading 1-0.
After the break, it was a similar story, and 16 minutes from full-time Ngueet doubled Senegal’s lead scoring from a close range being assisted by 2019 African Player of the Year Mane.
With nine points from nine, Senegal seems to already have one foot in Cameroon.
Mauritania 1 – 1 Burundi
A superb free-kick from Saidi Ntibazonkiza in the 80th minute gave Burundi their first point of Group E, after snatching a precious draw from Mauritania in Nouakchott.
The Mourabitounes took the lead in a similar pattern when Bakary N’diaye scored at the half-hour mark from a free-kick. Mauritania had the lion share of possession and chances in the first half but could only manage a lone goal lead.
This advantage lasted till the 80th minute before The Swallows of Burundi managed the equalizer as Ntibazonkiza’s free-kick was too much for Mauritania’s goalkeeper Namori Diaw.
It was a disappointment for Corentin Martins’ men who thought they had won the game. Both sides lock horns in Bujumbura after four days.
Libya 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Substitute Salomon Obama Ondo scored the winner at the death of added time as Equatorial Guinea overturned a 2-1 deficit in added time to beat Libya 3-2 in a Group J AFCON qualifier in Cairo on Wednesday.
The Mediterranean Knights looked set for a 2-1 win with 90 minutes gone on the clock, but the Equatoguineans showed admirable fighting spirit to score in quick succession and pick three points that take them to level with Tanzania and the Libyans.
Equatorial Guinea adopted a never say die attitude and Obiang’s belter of a shot from the range made it 2-2 in the first minute of added time before Ondo buried home two minutes later with a strong shot from the right.
Group leaders Tunisia will meanwhile face Tanzania in the other fixture of the group and the Carthage Eagles will retain their position with victory over the Taifa Stars.
