Mane scores and misses penalty as Senegal squeeze through
Sadio Mane became the leading scorer in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Friday when he scored the goal that gave Senegal a 1-0 win over Uganda in a feisty last-16 clash.
The Liverpool star struck on 15 minutes with a close-range shot after a passing move carved open the Ugandan defence in Cairo.
Mane later missed a penalty - the second time he has failed to find the net from 12 yards in as many matches - but his three-goal tally from three matches moved him ahead of 11 scorers with two each.
In the quarter-finals, Senegal will face fellow west Africans Benin, who stunned Morocco earlier, winning a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw following extra time.
A fiery start at the Cairo International Stadium to the second last-16 match saw two Ugandans and one Senegalese yellow-carded within 10 minutes of the kick-off.
As tempers cooled, Senegal scored through Mane, who shared the Premier League Golden Boot last season with Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal.
A Ugandan pass out of defence was intercepted and two quick, slick passes sent Mane clear to fire left-footed past Onyango - one of the top goalkeepers in Africa.
July 5, 2019
There were more cards than attempts on target in the opening 45 minutes, which ended with Senegal comfortably retaining a one-goal advantage.
The match not only lacked goalmouth excitement, but also atmosphere with a crowd of just a few thousand dotted around the 75,000 stadium, where the final will be played on 19th July.
Scorching heat, costly tickets and a lack of interest by Egyptians in teams other than their own Pharaohs are some of the reasons for the poor attendances.
Senegal had a great chance to double their lead when Mane was fouled by Onyango, but the Liverpool star failed to convert the penalty, a fate he also suffered against Kenya.
He aimed for the right corner, but Onyango, who was lucky to still be on the pitch after somehow escaping a second yellow with his foul on Mane, guessed correctly and made a brilliant two-handed save to keep the Cranes in the match.
As free-kicks were continually conceded, Uganda had few opportunities to equalise, but did come close on 80 minutes when goalkeeper Alfred Gomis pushed away an Allan Kateregga free-kick.