Continental champions Senegal have moved to within touching distance of qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after they racked up an emphatic 5-1 triumph over Mozambique at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Dakar on Friday night.
The Teranga Lions made it three wins from as many games in Group L thanks to goals from Youssouf Sabaly, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, Boulaye Dia and Habib Diallo, and a victory in their next match away to the Mambas (second on the log with four points compared to the leaders’ nine) will seal qualification for the Nations Cup finals in Ivory Coast next year.
Senegal got off to a flying start and claimed the lead in just the ninth minute. A sustained attack concluded with Boulaye Dia dummying Iliman Ndiaye’s square ball, allowing Youssouf Sabaly to crack home a drive from the edge of the penalty area for 1-0.
? 9’ Sabaly
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) March 24, 2023
? 15’ Mane
? 32’ Ndiaye
? 39’ Dia
? 88’ Diallo
The African Champions prove too strong for Mozambique as they win 5-1. #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 pic.twitter.com/8m0ZXb0rfw
And it was soon 2-0, with Sadio Mane netting in the 15th minute. Sabaly went from scorer to provider, clipping in a teasing ball from the right which allowed Mane to sneak between goalkeeper and defender, before providing just enough of a touch to help the ball into the back of the net.
The Teranga Lions effectively killed off the game with a third goal just after the half-hour mark, as Abdallah Ndour whipped in a cross from the left which was beautifully finished off by Ndiaye, who clipped a shot past the right hand of goalkeeper Gion Chande.
On 39 minutes Senegal continued their relentless attack and were rewarded with a fourth goal, as Dia picked up a loose ball and fired off a shot from the edge of the box – his effort was well saved by Chande, but Dia followed up to sweep home the loose ball and make it 4-0.
The Mambas, having offered almost nothing in attack through the first half, pulled a goal back three minutes into the second, as Lourenco Vilanculos acrobatically headed home on the rebound after Alfred Gomis had saved an initial shot on target from a free kick by Elias Pelembe.
This sparked a period of dominance for the visitors, who looked to capitalise on their momentum by introducing Luis Miquissone, Shaquille Nangy and Domingos Macandza on the hour mark, while Senegal responded by bringing on Krepin Diatta, Pathe Ciss and Habib Diallo.
The Teranga Lions reclaimed control of the game and were mostly content to sit on their three-goal lead, controlling the game and efficiently ensuring that the Mambas had no path to a comeback.
Senegal spurned great chances created for substitute Bamba Dieng, but he eventually turned provider and sent in a cross from the right which was headed home by Diallo in the 89th minute to complete a 5-1 scoreline.
The teams will meet in the return Group L match at Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo on Tuesday, 28 March.
Senegal (4) 5 (Sabaly 9’, Mane 15’, Ndiaye 32’, Dia 39’, Diallo 89’)
Mozambique (0) 1 (Vilanculos 48’)
Senegal: Gomis, Sabaly, Koulibaly, Seck, Ndour (Niakhate 90’), P. Sarr (Diatta 65’), N. Mendy (Ciss 64’), Gueye, Dia (Diallo 64’), Mane, Ndiaye (Dieng 76’)
Mozambique: Chande, Witi (Dove 67’), Mexer, Zainadine, Langa, Kambala (Nangy 60’), Momade, Pelembe (Miquissone 60’), Ratifo, Vilanculos (Alexandre 67’), Bauque (Macandza 60’)