Senegal survive Zimbabwe scary in Afcon opener as Mane stoppage time penalty earns three points
Senegal beat Zimbabwe in though Afcon Group B opener at Bafoussam Omnisport Stadium on Monday afternoon. Zimbabwe nearly forced tournament favorites Senegal to open day goalless draw but Mane’s penalty conversion put a stop to Zimbabwe’s scary.
Senegal seemed to superimposed Zimbabwe with their sweet team build-up plays in the opening 10 minutes but Norman Mapeza’s men never fall for that stretching Senegal to first half goalless draw.
Sadio Mane, Keita Balde and Boulaye Dia started in strong Senegal three up front and immediately became chief operators in final third but Zimbabwe defense curbed any dangers associated with Cisse’s front men.
Looking so relaxed was Zimbabwe in midst of Senegal’s total possessive game in first 30 minutes. Virtually, Zimbabwe struggled to keep the ball with Senegal caging them in their own half.
Despite Zimbabwe’s strong defensive setup, Senegal managed with few times to make goal scoring penetrations but Dia in particular was not accurate enough to put Senegal ahead around 28′ minute.
His effort from from the left foot inside the box missed the right posts by smaller margin. Both teams matched equally on physique permutations but Senegal were much quality than their opponents. Senegal’s total dominance continued and entered Zimbabwe box from the left edge with a low cross but Gerald Takwara cleared the danger for Zimbabwe.
A minute after, Zimbabwe’s resilience forced Keita Balde shot from outside the box after outnumbering preventing him entering the box or finding a pass either. Senegal pushed for the opener and nearly went ahead minutes later after Dia run through Zimbabwe back line for a perfect ball behind but his effort missed the posts narrowly.
Senegal came close to opening the score again but Dia’s cross into the box for Balde was cleared by Zimbabwe defender Takwara.
Zimbabwe caught Senegal on dangerous breaks many times with one as a result allowing Knowledge Musona shooting at goal but the ball hit the arm of Balde behind the box. The Cagliari forward went into the referee’s book as the first player to be showed a yellow card in Group B.
Zimbabwe found solutions to break Senegal’s dominance and manged to come forward. One of their attacks from the 35′ minute mark that was going straight into the net was blocked by Ibrahima Mbaye. A moment later Senegal broke on counter with Liverpool star Mane in spotlight at the left flank.
Cheikhou Kouyate had run into the box from the right edge. Mane passed perfectly to Kouyate’s feet but the Crustal Palace man first touch was very poor as the ball went into Petros Mhari’s arm.
The game had turned into a bit end-to-end action as Kangwe danced his way into Senegal box but shot off target.
Senegal created a chance from a corner kick after Fode Toure received a short pass at left edge of the outside box, the AC Milan left-back shot to outside netting as that was the last kick to end first half.
Senegal’s problem of finding the perfect defense splitting pass continued in the second half and for 15′ minutes after restart, Senegal had failed to enter into Zimbabwe box. Mane tried to run a one man show skipping past his marker from behind the box, the Liverpool intended to find Balde inside the box but Takwara intercepted to deal with the situation.
Senegal broke down the left side again but Balde’s cross was weak to beat Takawara as the Zimbabwe central defender cleared the lines. Balde was then substituted for Habib Diallo few minutes later. As minutes go by, Senegal continued to increase possession but the real time spaces in final third were serially closed down with Zimbabwe sitting too deep. On 69′ minute, many suggested Senegal would break the deadlock from a set piece with Mane delivering a sweet cross into the box from the left but unmarked Abou Diallo headed wayward.
Frustration began growing in Senegal from 72′ minute mark as Zimbabwe in a way owed the game. They won a free kick down the right flank with their delivery heading to a corner by Mbaye.
Senegal’s best chance came following defending the Zimbabwean corner as a pass from Kouyate found Dia on the right which a gave a situation of two against one with Dia only tasked to find Mane to score at the far post. Dia entered the box, managed to pass across goal but Mhari read in between to catch the ball without reaching Mane who would have scored from an empty net.
With 10′ minutes to end the game, there was no sign Zimbabwe were tied and would throw in the towel in midst of Senegal’s controlling of the game. Habib Diallo failed to beat Takudzwa Chimwemwe down the left flank to show the intend not to fall behind Senegal.
Wadi should have broken the deadlock for Zimbabwe with only five minutes to full time after appearing neatly on Musona’s corner but the 7-shirted man power on the ball was weak to beat Senegal keeper Seny Dieng as the shot went straight into arms for easy grab.
Senegal would launch as many attacks they could in the final five minutes but never created any decent opportunity to score. After additional three minutes shown, their appeared confusion midway showed glimpses. But they pushed for the opener in the last minutes and got the breakthrough after be awarded a penalty. A shot from outside the box hit Kelvin Madzongwe arm but the situation had to overcome VAR check.
After certified decision to legitimate Senegal’s penalty, Mane stood behind the ball and send Mhari the wrong way as the ball entered the net from left, the Zimbabwe goalkeeper went the opposite direction.
Senegal pick first three points as they face Guinea in the second group stage game on Friday. Before that Guinea and Malawi meet in Group B other fixture.
