Senegal 3-1 Equatorial Guinea: Mane helps Senegal secure victory with an assist

Game is over and the final score is Senegal 3-1 Equatorial Guinea. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Senegal overcame Equatorial Guinea to set up an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Burkina Faso.

Senegal started well as Idrissa Gueye fired a free-kick wide and Diedhiou had a shot saved by Jesus Owono before their 28th-minute opener.

Liverpool forward Mane, taken to hospital with concussion after suffering a clash of heads in the last-16 match against Cape Verde, played an excellent pass and Diedhiou finished well.

But Equatorial Guinea, semi-finalists in 2015, fought back early in the second half.

They thought they had a penalty when referee Victor Gomes pointed to the spot after the ball hit Kalidou Koulibaly's hand at close range. But, following a VAR intervention, Gomes watched the incident on a pitchside monitor and judged Koulibaly could not have moved away in time as it was so close.

Equatorial Guinea bounced back from that disappointment and equalised in the 57th minute as Pablo Ganet linked up with Buyla, who fired an angled strike past Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

But Senegal were gifted a 68th-minute second when Crystal Palace midfielder Kouyate, brought on just three minutes earlier, volleyed into the net after two Equatorial Guinea defenders collided into each other while trying to head clear.

Another substitute Sarr, playing his first game since November after injury, sealed Senegal's victory after good work from team-mate Saliou Ciss.

Line-ups

Senegal XI: Gueye, Ciss, Koulibaly, Nampalys Mendy, Sarr, Mane, E. Mendy, F. Diedhiou, Diallo, Pape Gueye, B. Dia

Subs: Kouyate, Gomis, Mbaye, Keita, T. Dieng, H. Diallo, Cisse, M. Loum, Sarr, M. Name, Pape Matar Sarr, Bamba Dieng

Equatorial Guinea XI: Nsue, Carlos Akapo, Iban Salvador, Pablo Ganet, Josete Miranda, Pepín, Jannick Buyla, Esteban, Basilio Ndong, Saúl Coco, Jesús Owono

Subs: Rubén Belima, Miguel Ángel Mayé, Bikoro, Cosme Anvene, Marvin Anieboh, Santiago Eneme, Pedro Oba, Luis Meseguer, Álex Balboa, Luis Nlavo, Dorian Hanza, Mariano Mba