Senegal march on to Afcon quarters as Mali beat Tunisia on penalties

CASABLANCA – Crowned African champions in 2022, Senegal are seen as the biggest threats to hosts Morocco’s dreams of winning their first Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title in half a century.

The Lions of Teranga believe that their strong team spirit is the key to achieving that goal.

On Jan 3, Pape Gueye scored twice as much-fancied Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 and seal a place in the quarter-finals, while 10-man Mali edged out Tunisia in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Pape Thiaw’s team had already come from behind to salvage a draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo during the group stage, and Gueye said the victory showcased their fighting spirit.

“We showed against Congo that we are capable of coming from behind in a game and that is what we did tonight, so we are very happy,” remarked the midfielder.

“It means a lot. It shows how good the spirit in the camp is. It was a very difficult match. We played against Sudan before and they made life hard for us.

“But we managed to keep our focus and score when the chances came along.”

It would have been a huge shock had the team lost in Tangier to a Sudan side who are almost 100 places beneath them in the FIFA rankings.

Sudan reached the Afcon knockout stage for just the second time since lifting the trophy in 1970 despite the country being ravaged by civil war for the last three years.

An upset was on the cards when Aamir Abdallah, a semi-professional footballer who plays for Australian second-tier club Avondale FC, curled in a superb early opener.

But Senegal, who took four points out of a possible six against Sudan during the qualifying stage for the 2026 World Cup, came back to take the lead before half-time thanks to a brace by Villarreal’s Gueye.

Former African Player of the Year Sadio Mane set up Gueye to equalise just before the half-hour mark and the same player struck again in stoppage time at the end of the opening period to make it 2-1.

Senegal introduced Ibrahim Mbaye into the match 15 minutes from time and the Paris Saint-Germain teenager made sure of the victory in the 77th minute, when the 17-year-old latched onto a long pass and beat goalkeeper Monged Abuzaid at his near post for 3-1.

They will now stay in Tangier to face their West African neighbours Mali in the last eight on Jan 9, after the Eagles prevailed 3-2 on penalties against Tunisia following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time.

Mali, who have never won Afcon, looked to be in trouble when defender Woyo Coulibaly was sent off in the 26th minute in Casablanca for a nasty challenge on Hannibal Mejbri.

Tunisia then appeared to have won the tie when substitute Firas Chaouat headed them in front in the 88th minute, but Mali were rescued by Lassine Sinayoko’s 96th-minute penalty – awarded following a handball – which set up extra time.

With no further goals scored on a rainy night, the match went to penalties and Mali captain Yves Bissouma, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, blazed their first kick over the bar.

However, Ali Abdi then missed for Tunisia and Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra helped to swing the momentum his team’s way with saves to deny Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane.

El Bilal Toure then stepped up to convert the kick that took Mali through to the next round.

“Before the game I said my team were already heroes and now there is no other word after we played for so long with 10 men,” said Mali’s Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.

“Every player fought for their country and did everything to stay in this competition.” AFP