Tuesday’s action in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers brought victories for reigning continental kings Senegal, who now lead the group with six points.
Senegal and Liverpool fc international Sadio Mane slotted home a penalty seven minutes into stoppage time to hand reigning African champions Senegal a narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda at home in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
The Lions of Teranga fielded a full-strength side, with Mane leading the attack, but they then, they put in a slugging performance against a resilient Amavubi, and were only able to claim victory thanks to a penalty eight minutes into injury time at the end of the game from Sadio Mane, who has scored all four of their goals (three from the penalty spot) in their qualification campaign thus far.
Senegal was supposed to play its match in Kigali but renovations to the stadium in the Rwanda capital saw the two associations agree to switch around their qualifiers, so that Rwanda will host Senegal at the end of the qualifying competition next March.
After the game, Coach Aliou Cisse admitted, Rwanda were difficult to break, the best option was to bring Keita Balde to his favorite position, and shift Ismaila Sarr to the right side”
The afternoon match in Group B saw Burkina Faso claim a 3-1 away win over Eswatini in Johannesburg.
The hosts looked on course for an upset when Sabelo Ndzinisa put them ahead a few minutes after the hour mark, but the goal appeared to wake the Stallions up, and they responded with three strikes of their own – through Dango Ouattara (two) and Stephane Aziz Ki – to lead the way with a full haul of six points.
