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| Sadio Mane, the man of the match against Benin, runs with the ball at the Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade of Diamniadio on June 4, 2022, during the first day of the CAN 2022 qualifiers against Benin. |
Sadio
Mane scored a hat-trick as Senegal made a successful start to the defence of
their Africa Cup of Nations crown with a 3-1 home victory over Benin on
Saturday in their first qualifier for the next finals in 2023.
Mane, whose club future is in doubt after he
suggested to reporters on Friday he might be leaving Liverpool, netted two
penalties in his hat-trick as Senegal made light work of their visitors in the
Group L encounter.
Mali thrashed Congo 4-0 in Bamako in a
winning debut for new coach Eric Sekou Chelle while Algeria, Gambia and
Mauritania were also winners on a busy Saturday programme of qualifiers for the
next finals in the Ivory Coast. Algeria won 2-0 at home against Uganda with a
fortuitous goal off the chest of fullback Aissa Mandi that was followed by a
mazy individual effort from Youcef Belaili for the second.
Mane had teased at the prematch news
conference that he would be leaving Liverpool, added to growing speculation
about a move away from Anfield, but put all of that behind him as he led
Senegal to a comfortable win, made easier when Benin had Sessi D’Almeida sent
off early in the second half. But the visitors did manage a late consolation
from substitute Junior Olaitan.
El Bilal Toure scored twice for Mali, who
narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification in March, as they took early
command of Group G, joining Gambia on three points. Belgian-based Abdoulie
Jallow scored the game’s only goal as Gambia, surprise quarterfinalists at the
finals in Cameroon earlier this year, beat South Sudan 1-0 in the other group
game.
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