Mane missed decisive penalty as Cameroon
reach AFCON semis
Cameroon have won one game in 90 minutes at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations |
Liverpool's Sadio Mane missed the decisive
spot kick as Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of
Nations semi-finals.
Mane, Africa's most expensive player, was
denied by FabriceOndoa, Vincent Aboubakar hitting the winning penalty.
Much
fancied Senegal had a great chance to win it in normal time but Moussa Sow
volleyed wide from close range to leave the game scoreless after 120 minutes.
Cameroon
are four-time winners of the tournament.
The
result means Mane is likely to make a swift return to his club Liverpool, who
suffered a surprising 2-1 home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup
fourth round on Saturday.
There
were striking similarities to this game and 15 years ago, when Cameroon and
Senegal met in the 2002 final in Mali.
On
that occasion, Cameroon beat Senegal 3-2 on penalties after a goalless 120
minutes.
Senegal
were made to pay for missing a number of chances in both normal time and extra
time.
West
Ham's CheikhouKouyate headed an early chance over the bar while Stoke City's
MameBiramDiouf was close with a lob from inside the area.
Cameroon,
who will now face the Democratic Republic of Congo or Ghana on Thursday for a
place in the final, failed to register a noteworthy shot in the opening hour.
Their
first serious attempt on target came in the 65th minute when Robert NdipTambe
volleyed straight at Abdoulaye Diallo before the Senegal keeper produced a low
one-handed save to keep out Benjamin Moukandjo.
Diallo
was responsible for ensuring the tie went to penalties after a fine stop to
keep out Jacques Zoua in extra time.
In
the shootout, there was nothing to choose between the two teams as the first
eight penalties went to plan.
At
4-4, Mane stepped forward but Ondoa saved his kick. That presented Aboubakar
with a chance to seal victory and the Besiktas forward made no mistake.
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