AFCON 2021: Senegal kick off their campaign with a laboured win
Senegal’s and Chelsea’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy missed Senegal’s opening Africa Cup of Nations match against Zimbabwe after testing positive for coronavirus. He was replaced by Seny Timothy Dieng, who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers, while the Zimbabwean Warriors had a clean bill of health coming into the clash.
The Lions of Teranga looked to make a fast start when they registered their first attempt on goal with just seconds on the clock.
The first half descended into a one-sided affair with Zimbabwe placed under constant pressure by the Senegalese but the Warriors’ keeper Petros Mhari stood tall in goal. He would not be beaten for the entire period as the teams went into the tunnel for the halftime break all square.
The match became more pedestrian in the second half with the sides not showing much urgency on attack. Despite them cancelling each other out for large parts of the half, Senegal were able to find more joy than their opponents going forward.
The match looked to be heading to a draw until a penalty was given to Senegal for a handball by Kelvin Madzongwe deep into stoppage time which gave Sadio Mane an opportunity to snatch the three points at the death from the penalty spot.
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