Mane leads Senegal to 2022 African Cup qualification

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):

Senegal became the first team to qualify for the 2022 African Cup of Nations with Sadio Mane scoring in a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau yesterday.

Senegal now have a maximum 12 points from four games in Group I and are guaranteed one of the two qualifying places from the group.

Mane's winner came with just eight minutes left in Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau had been down to 10 men since the 64th minute, when Jorge Bura Braima was sent off for a second yellow card.

Liverpool forward Mane was also on target with the opening goal, a penalty, in Senegal's 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in Senegal on Wednesday.

Senegal lost to Algeria in the final of the last Cup of Nations in Egypt last year, extending their long wait for a first African title. The next edition in Cameroon was meant to be played next year but was moved back to January-February 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Defending champions Algeria, Ghana and Tunisia have all won three games from three in qualifying and could follow Senegal into the final tournament this week. Algeria play away in Zimbabwe on Monday. Ghana travel to Sudan and Tunisia to Tanzania tomorrow.

While Senegal sailed through, Guinea sustained a setback in their campaign on Sunday with a 1-1 draw in Chad, the bottom-place team in its group. Naby Keita gave Guinea the lead in N'Djamena before Ahmat Abdraman equalised right on half-time.