Senegal won a highly entertaining 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener thanks to a late Sadio Mane’s penalty against a very impressive Zimbabwe.
The encounter got off to a slow start, although Senegal started asserting their dominance after five minutes.
Norman Mapeza’s side were quite content to let the Lions of Teranga have the ball, while they attacked on the counter with Knowledge Musona, Teenage Habede and Prince Dube.
Senegal went close in the 28th minute when Sadio Mane’s shot from 25-yards out sailed just wide of the Petros Mhari’s upright.
The Lions of Teranga should have gone ahead two minutes later when Dieng’s long ball found Bouna Sarr , who placed his effort wide of the upright with Mbaeva to beat.
Aliou Cisse’s side continued to waste chances as the half drew to a close, this time Abdou Diallo heading over from 10-yards in the 43rd minute.
Zimbabwe nearly broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half when Habede beat Dieng’s to the ball but ended up directing his inches wide of the upright.
With Senegal struggling to breakdown Warriors, Cisse introduced the skillful Diallo, while Kamusoko and Kadewere went on for Zimbabwe.
Petros Mhari nearly gave Warriors in the 76th minute, as he came rushing off his line to deny Mane in the 12-yard area.
Both teams did push forward in search for a winning goal and this opener could have gone either way, but Mane held his nerve to slot home penalty of the night to give Senegal three vital points.
How they lined up:
Senegal: S. Dieng, B. Sarr, I. Mbaye, A. Diallo, F. Ballo, P. Cissé, C. Kouyaté, I. Gueye, S. Mané, K. Baldé (M. Diallo 64), B. Dia (P. Gueye 77)
Zimbabwe: P. Mhari, O. Bhasera, B. Kangwa, T. Hadebe, T. Chimwemwe, K. Benyu (T. Kamusoko 71), G. Takwara, K. Madzongwe, I. Wadi, K. Musona,P. Dube (T. Kadewere)
