Afcon Wrap: Senegal become first team to qualify

Sadio Mane of Senegal

Sunday Nov 15, 2020. 23:25

Senegal became the first team to punch their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) ticket following their qualifying win in Bissau on Sunday.

The Lions of Teranga beat Guinea Bissau 1-0 at Estádio 24 de Setembro in one of five qualifying matches scattered across the African continent to end the week, with Sadio Mane’s late goal the difference between the two countries on the day. Djurtus played the final half-hour with 10-men after Jorge Bura Braima received his marching orders.

Victory moved the 2019 Afcon runners-up to a maximum haul of 12 points in Group I after four matches and punched their ticket for the upcoming showpiece set to be hosted in Cameroon.

Sunday’s action started in Bujumbura where Burundi claimed an important 3-1 win over Mauritania to reignite their Afcon hopes. Saidi Ntibazonkiza bagged a brace to move the hosts up to four points, one behind Mauritania in a tightly contested Group E.

Comoros are on the cusp of qualifying for their first ever Afcon tournament after beating Kenya 2-1 at Stade Omnisports de Malouzini in Moroni.

The island nation moved up to eight points in Group G with goals from El Fardou Ben Mohamed and Faiz Mattoir leaving Les Coelacantes requiring a mere point from their final two matches to ensure qualification for the African showpiece.

Moreover, Guinea moved a step closer to Afcon qualification with a 1-1 draw away to Chad in N’Djamena, with Naby Keita joining Liverpool teammate Mane in finding the back of the net on Sunday.

Equatorial Guinea ended the weekend with a 1-0 win over Libya in Malabo courtesy of a solitary goal from Ivan Salvador. The result moves them up to six points and a step closer to qualification with an important fixture at home to Tanzania to follow in March.

Full list of results, Sunday 15 November:

Burundi 3-1 Mauritania

Chad 1-1 Guinea

Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Senegal

Comoros 2-1 Kenya

Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya