Sadio Mane put his World Cup disappointment behind him by scoring on his return to worldwide motion as Senegal swept previous Mozambique 5-1 within the African Cup of Nations qualifying.
Mane darted behind the protection to poke dwelling a go by Youssouf Sabaly along with his left foot for the reigning African champion’s second purpose in Dakar.
His one-time Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah netted Egypt’s opener in a 2-Zero win over Malawi.
And there was additionally a profitable return for Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller, who scored to assist his nation beat Comoros 3-1 in his first worldwide since his comeback after receiving remedy for testicular most cancers.
Mane smiled as he celebrated his purpose along with his teammates, who needed to do with out their star participant on the World Cup final yr after he was injured simply earlier than the match.
With out Mane, Senegal had been knocked out by England within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup.
However the convincing win over Mozambique, Mane’s first recreation for Senegal since earlier than the World Cup, stored the Cup of Nations titleholders on the high of Group L with three wins from three and on track to qualify for the continental championship subsequent yr in Ivory Coast.
Sabaly scored the primary purpose within the ninth minute, Mane made it two within the 16th, and Iliman Ndiaye and Boulaye Dia ensured Senegal led 4-Zero at halftime. Habib Diallo despatched a diving header in for the fifth with two minutes to go.
Gildo Vilanculos acquired Mozambique’s solely purpose when he headed a parry by Alfred Gomis straight again previous the Senegal goalkeeper to make it 4-1 early within the second half.
Senegal didn’t permit that to threaten their dominance and managed the remainder of the sport, with Mane at one level urging his staff to not accept 4-1 and go ahead seeking extra targets. Diallo ultimately delivered.
Salah took his purpose with a first-time shot from a cross within the 20th minute to provide Egypt the lead in opposition to Malawi in Cairo. Omar Marmoush was credited with the second however his low shot took a depraved deflection off a Malawian defender and looped over goalkeeper Charles Thom.
Egypt had 21 pictures to Malawi’s 5 and 75 p.c possession, and the win revived the document seven-time African champion’s qualifying marketing campaign after they misplaced to Ethiopia within the final spherical to slide to the underside of Group D on purpose distinction.
Earlier, Nigeria struggled to a 1-Zero loss at dwelling to Guinea-Bissau, ending the Tremendous Eagles’ profitable begin to qualifying and seeing Guinea-Bissau take high spot in Group A.
Nigeria are nonetheless in place to qualify for the African Cup as the highest two groups from every group qualify.
South Africa cruised to a 2-Zero lead over Liberia with a double by striker Lyle Foster, however Liberia fought again for a draw with Mohammed Sangare’s equalizer coming in damage time at Soccer Metropolis in Soweto.
That damage South Africa’s hopes of qualifying and deeply pissed off coach Hugo Broos, who walked out of a information convention after telling reporters he would not reply any of their questions.
“There may be an excessive amount of disappointment, an excessive amount of frustration, an excessive amount of anger in my physique,” Broos stated. “If I ought to say now what I feel, it could not be good.”
