Senegal commenced their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a winning note after Sadio Mane scored a late penalty to edge Zimbabwe 1-0 in Monday Group B game.
Senegal almost took the lead within a minute, as Bouna Sarr’s long-range effort was just wide of the near post.
Sadio Mane had the best chance of the first half, making a 30-yard dribble on the far-side touchline, then rounding a Zimbabwe defender, but his shot was tame and it was straight at Petros Mhari.
In the second half, Abdou Diallo came close to scoring for his side, as the centre-back headed over Sarr’s free-kick.
A point was snatched from Zimbabwe right at the very end, when Mane calmly dispatched a dramatic late penalty after Kelvin Madzongwe handled the ball in the box.
Group B’s other two countries Guinea – featuring Mane’s Liverpool teammate Naby Keita – and Malawi also meet on Monday.
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COMMENTS
Zimbabwe almost shock Senegal today. Senegal came to Cameroon to play big man football. They couldn’t breakdown a stubborn Zimbabwean defense in open play. Zimbabwe we’re just unlucky with that penalty. Senegal is missing some players agreed, but they look jaded. The midfield is very porous. Against a good side they may be exposed. Though it’s still early, but I don’t see them winning the cup. Did you guys notice most of Cisse’s back room staff and assistant are foreigners?? I think that’s how it should be in Africa. A local coach with ambition working in tandem with technically savvy foreign assistan
Actually, Zimbabwe packed the bus and frustrated Senegal throughout the game. When teams play with a low-block system, they’re difficult to penetrate.
Most of the games has being cagey and close. Nigerian vs Egypt may also be cagey, ending in a slim-win or draw. First games are like that. However, I expect teams to open up in the second games
Underrate any team at your own risk, the matches so far are entertaining and the smaller teams are really given the big guns food for thought, no small team anymore ohhhh
But the bigger teams are edging the smaller ones.
I want to see an upset where a small team wins
If it was Nigeria that labored to a late win against team like that the whole place would have been flooded with comments with different names giving to the coach. With all the calibers of stars in that Senegal team one would have expect them to wallop Zimbabwe or beat them convincingly. Nigeria won CAR away some inglorious fans as to called the coach names by saying they have to rely on 2 penalties to win ordinary CAR. The same Cape Verde we drew with in Lagos surprised everyone by winning their match yesterday convincingly. Anothe shocker today was Zimbabwe barring that late penalty they deserve at least a point
I felt sorry for Rohr a good fellow who did a very good job.
Nigerians are too demanding very difficult people to please.
They think they are better than everyone and should destroy every team that comes there way.Sometimes you have to dig deep to win but we were winning the results were coming we are getting qualification targets I really don’t understand why that good man was sacked and treated with disdain.
People deserves good treatment irrespective of colour race we all deserves to be loved and appreciated.
I still feel sad till date over his malicious sack.I felt ashame how my people called for his sack like he should be crucified.
Most of us live in a foreign country and we live well in harmony and have had great successes in the diaspora,we should do better we should know better to receprocate that love also in our country.
@tayo, some of the forumites dont know the difference between football and netball. With easy access to any ‘Palasa’ phone, any drunkard can post just about anything.