AFCON: Mane Takes Senegal To Last 8, Algeria On Brink Of Elimination

Mane’s opener and Henri Saivet’s beautifully taken free kick gave the Teranga Lions a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in Franceville to go top of Group B and a place in the last 8.

The Liverpool man opened the scoring in the 9th minute, converting at the far post for his second in the tournamnent, while Saviet curled in an excellent free kick into the top left corner four minutes later to put the game beyond Zimbabwe.

The result means Senegal will top Group B no matter the result of their next game.

Since finishing fourth in 2006, the Senegalese have failed to get past the group stage three times and failed to qualify on two occasions.

“The goal today was to qualify and we have done that,” said Senegal coach and 2002 World Cup star Aliou Cisse.

“Even when we played badly in the first match (against Tunisia), we won. Today we played well and won and we have qualified.

“It’s been 10 years since we last made the quarter-finals. Now we have done it and I congratulate the players.

“I am very proud of the guys. Now we have to continue like this.”

In the other game of the group, Tunisia took a major step in reaching the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over neighbours Algeria.

Les Aigles de Carthage took the lead when Algeria’s Aissa Mandi directed Youssef Msakni’s left-wing cross into his own net.

And some dreadful defending by Faouzi Ghoulam led to him bringing down Wahbi Khazri for a penalty which Naim Sliti coolly slotted into the right corner.

Algeria pulled one back in the closing stages when Sofiane Hanni struck from the edge of the area, but Riyad Mahrez and his teammates were unable to level proceedings and are now at the brink of elimination.

Algeria have to beat Senegal and Zimbabwe beat Tunisia might the Desert Foxes squeeze through on goal difference, goals scored or the drawing of lots.