Senegal books place to reach AFCON 2019 semis
Senegal has booked their place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals with Idrissa Gueye scoring against an impressive Benin Republic side in a thrilling quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.
The Teranga Lions were dominant in the opening stages, enjoying a 64-46 possession of proceedings, but it was the Benin Squirrels that came close to taking the lead 19 minutes into the game. A free-kick from the left-hand channel was side-footed by Porter who agonizingly watched his effort stroll marginally wide of the post.
It was no distinct surprise that both sides went into the half time break on equal scoreless terms.
The restart for the second period saw the best chance of the half falling on the lively Squirrels’ Pote in the 47th minute but his effort was smothered by the Senegalese goalkeeper.
The Lions thought they had gotten the breakthrough on 53 minutes when Sadio Mane had the ball into the net but was ruled offside.
However, the Benin Republic were almost gifted a goal on the 66th minute when Senegal goalkeeper failed to deal properly a back pass, gifting the Squirrels a corner kick that eventually did not bear any fruit.
The breakthrough eventually arrived on the stroke of 70 minutes when Everton forward, Idrissa Gueye fired Senegal into the lead after pouncing on a brilliant pass by Mane to fire past goalkeeper Alagbe of Benin Republic.
