Mane: The important thing is we won

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Jan 11, 2022. 15:00

Senegal striker Sadio Mane is just relieved they snatched a last minute victory over Zimbabwe on Monday to make a positive start to their AFCON 2021 Group B campaign.

The AFCON 2019 runners-up stole a stoppage time 1-0 victory over a plucky Zimbabwe side in Bafoussam.

Mane converted a penalty deep into the seventh minute of time added-on after Zimbabwe defender Kelvin Madzongwe handled the ball.

“You need certain characteristics in this kind of match and you know we were playing in the sun, so it was not easy,” Mane told in a post-match interview Bein Sports.

“Physically, the Senegal team also suffered, because we did not have a friendly match before the tournament and that too did not help us.

“But hey, that’s no excuse. It’s the first match, we won in the end, and it’s the most important for us. ”

Meanwhile, Mane took home the man of the match from the win over Zimbabwe.

Senegal now turns its focus to January 14 to face their southern neighbours Guinea in a top two Group B derby clash.

Guinea also made a winning start following a 1-0 victory over Malawi on the same day.