Sadio Mane celebrated his a centesimal Senegal look by scoring twice in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over South Sudan in an empty stadium close to Dakar on Saturday. The Saudi Arabia-based ahead, who has been voted African Footballer of the 12 months twice, additionally created a purpose within the Group B first spherical match earlier than being substituted. Success took reigning African champions Senegal to the highest of the group, forward of the Democratic Republic of Congo on purpose distinction, as they search a 3rd straight World Cup look in 2026.
The one disappointment for Mane and his teammates was that the match needed to be staged behind closed doorways after crowd hassle in a recreation in opposition to Egypt final yr.
Mane arrange Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Sarr to attain simply 37 seconds into the primary half with a low shot previous South Sudan goalkeeper Majak Mawith.
He scored himself 5 minutes later, working on to a again heel from Habib Diallo and shrugging off shirt pulling by an opponent to fireplace residence from shut vary.
Mawith, one in all a number of Australia-based gamers within the South Sudan aspect, was overwhelmed once more within the last minute of the opening half as Lamine Camara fired into the online.
Mane accomplished the scoring on 56 minutes by changing a penalty within the final of 26 matchday one fixtures in Africa.
There ought to have been 27 matches, however Eritrea withdrew with out giving a proof, leaving shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco with a Group E bye.
Morocco might be away on Tuesday to Tanzania, who started their marketing campaign with a 1-0 win over Niger via a 56th-minute purpose from debutant Charles M’Mombwa.
Tanzania path Zambia, who defeated Congo Brazzaville 4-2 on Friday, on purpose distinction in a bunch Morocco are anticipated to dominate.
South Africa, whose final World Cup look was 13 years in the past as hosts, went to the highest of Group C with a laboured 2-1 win over Benin in Durban.
Objectives early and late within the first half from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau gave Bafana Bafana (The Boys) a two-goal half-time benefit.
However they didn’t construct the lead in a scrappy second half and Benin captain Steve Mounie arrange a tense end by halving the deficit 20 minutes from time.
The second spherical kicks off on Sunday with former World Cup qualifiers Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt and Nigeria amongst 10 groups in motion.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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