Mane and Ndiaye score beauties and send Senegal to the World Cup

There wasn‘t any problems with Senegal during these World Cup qualifications. The Lions of Teranga played great in all 10 matches (including tonight) but it was DR Congo. The Leopards also did well and despite two defeats in these qualifications, they were just two points away from AFCON 2021 winners ahead of tonight's games. Senegal were unbeaten in previous six game and had six wins and three draws. But in some apocalyptic scenario in which DR Congo defeated Sudan and Senegal lost to Mauritania, then the direct promotion would be off. So, Sadio Mane and his teammates needed the win at home to brush away all dilemmas. And former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward once again showed that he is the true leader of this team and scored a brace in an easy victory: Senegal – Mauritania 4-0.

The Lions of Teranga played a routine match which wasn‘t pretty for most of the time, but the final goal was reached – The World Cup. This was another game in which Senegal scored without conceding and their goal difference remains impressive: 22:3. The home crowd were unbelievable and danced the whole 90 minutes but their players looked slow and without form in most parts of the game. Still, they produced the first chance after only two minutes. Sarr crossed the ball from the left and Ndiaye took a shot but it was saved on the line by a Mauritania defender.

While many believed that the goal was just around the corner, nothing really happened until injury time when Sadio Mane produced a great free kick and scored from over 20 meters from the lead. If there was any doubt about the final score of this game, it was shattered already in the 48th minute by Mane again. Diatta crossed the ball and Mane took care of the rest. Everton‘s Iliman Ndiaye scored an excellent goal in the 64th minute after a great solo effort in which he took the ball from 30 meters, passed four Mauritania defenders and put the ball in the net for the joy of the home supporters. Habib Diallo came in for Sadio Mane and it took him only seven minutes to score. Crystal Palace's Ismaïla Sarr dispossessed Mauritania defender near the touchline and suppled the ball to Metz striker who was cool enough to finish the attack with a goal for the final score.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 10

Tuesday

Seychelles - Gambia 0-7 (0-2)

/Sidibeh 46, 2, Barrow 52, 47, Manneh 75, 67, 24

Algeria - Uganda 2-1 (0-1)

/Amoura 81 pen, 90+9 pen - Mukwala 6/

Guinea - Botswana 2-2 (2-2)

/Traore 18, Balde 35 - Boy 7, Mohutsiwa 45+2/

Nigeria - Benin 4-0 (2-0)

/Osimhen 3, 37, 51, Onyeka 90+1/

S. Africa - Rwanda 3-0 (2-0)

/Mbatha 5, Appollis 26, Magkopa 72/

Somalila - Mozambique 0-1 (0-1)

/Catamo 6/

Dr Congo - Sudan 1-0 (1-0)

/Bongonda 29/

Gabon - Burundi 2-0 (0-0)

/Ngoua 86, Lemina 90+1/

Ivory Coast - Kenya 3-0 (1-0)

/Kessie 7, Diomande 54, Diallo 84/

Morocco - Kongo 1-0 (0-0)

/En-Nesyri 63/

Senegal - Mauritania 4-0 (1-0)

/Mane 45+1, 48, Ndiaye 64, Diallo 85/