By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
For the Teranga Lions, it was a case of saving the best for last as Senegal beats Equatorial Guinea 3-1 on Sunday night in the last quarter final tie to book a semi-final ticket in the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
The West African country which has not impressed in the tournament came up big on Sunday as Coach Aliou Cisse led Senegal showed hunger for victory from the beginning of the encounter and the team was rewarded in the 28th minute when Famara Diedhiou put Senegal ahead.
Dangerman, Sadio Mane in his typical fashion slides a lovely pass through to Diedhiou, and he sends a great finish first-time past Owono the goalkeeper of Equatorial Guinea, beating him at the near post.
Senegal was to miss several chances shortly after scoring the first goal and could not increase the tally until the end of the first half.
However, Equatorial Guinea equalized through attacker, Jannick Buyla in the 57th minute following a sloppy defending by Senegal.
Manor Ganet with a lovely reverse pass into the path of Buyla – one touch to control, a second to send it past Edouard
Mendy into the far corner. It was a brilliant finish.
Indeed, there was a nervy period in the second-half, but Senegal came through it and the substitutes made the difference as Coach Aliou Cisse brought in the “big boys” like stars, Cheikhou Kouyate and Ismaila Sarr as time was running out on them.
Luckily, the gamble paid off as Kouyate and Sarr scored two goals late on in the 68th minute and 78th minute to put Senegal back in front and they are through to the last four where Senegal will clash with
Burkina Faso in the semi-final tie.
