De Mohamed Elashi & Africanews com AP
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The African footballer of 2019 and 2022 pursued and harassed, created goals and opportunities for his teammates, setting an example in the absence of suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
Mané set up midfielder Pape Gueye’s opener and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye’s goal to send the 2021 champions Teranga Lions into the quarter-finals against Mali, who held on with 10 men on a cold, rainy night in Casablanca to beat Tunisia 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
“We needed to dig deep,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, whose side faced an early setback when Aamir Abdallah stunned the favorites with Sudan’s sixth-minute goal.
It was the first and last goal scored by a Sudanese player in the tournament. The Falcões de Jediane defeated Equatorial Guinea in the group stage thanks to an own goal.
The Sudanese, who played all their qualifying games away from home, at a time when the country is struggling with a brutal war and a humanitarian crisis, were courageous against Senegal.
Mali goes even further
El Bilal Touré took Mali to the quarter-finals with the winning penalty in a 3-2 shootout against Tunisia, after the game ended 1-1 in extra time.
Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved two penalties to make up for misses from Yves Bissouma and Dorgeles Nene as the Eagles prepare to face Senegal in Tangier on 9 January.
Tunisia regretted Ali Abdi’s failure and Diarra’s saves on Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ben Romdhane. Tunisia failed to beat Mali despite having an extra player since the 26th minute, when Woyo Coulibaly received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Hannibal Mejbri.
It was one of many bad plays. Before the red, referee Abongile Tom had already issued four yellow cards.
Coulibaly was the second Malian player sent off in two games, after Amadou Haidara against the Comoros.
Even after the expulsion, neither Mali nor Tunisia managed to get a shot on goal in the first half.
Fans had to wait until the 88th minute for Elias Saad to cross for Firas Chaouat to head in, which many thought would be Tunisia’s winning goal.
But Tunisian defender Yassine Meriah conceded a penalty in stoppage time, and Lassine Sinayoko leveled the game, sending it into extra time. It was Mali’s first shot on goal.
Sinayoko also scored in the shoot-out from the penalty spot after Mali captain Yves Bissouma had initially missed his penalty.
