Two second-half goals from Sadio Mane and Bamba Dieng helped Senegal to book their ticket for the AFCON quarter-finals
By Kehinde Okeowo
The highest-ranked African side Senegal beat nine-man Cape Verde 2-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Both teams went into the break without a goal as they were unable to reach each other’s defence.
The most notable event of the half was the straight red card shown to Cape Verdean midfielder Patrick Andrade in the 21st minute of the game.
ALSO READ: Cameroon edge past resilient 10 man Comoros
Sadio Mane curled in off the underside of the crossbar soon after keeper Vozinha had been dismissed following a nasty clash of heads with the Liverpool forward to give Senegal a 1-0 lead in the second half.
Bamba Dieng made it 2-0 to Senegal in the injury time after he finished off an assist by Famara Diediouh in the 92nd minute.
The encounter was preceded by a minute’s silence for the victims of the crush at the Olembe Stadium on Monday.
Senegal will face the winner of the game between Mali and Equatorial Guinea in the last eight on Sunday