Liverpool FC sensation, Sadio Mane was the architect of elimination for Senegal after missing a crucial penalty in the shootout of a Quarter final match against Cameroon in Franceville.The first half was charaterised by frenzied tackling and wild shooting as Senegal monopolised ball possession, but created little in the way of clear-cut opportunities.
Cameroon were happy to sit back and allow Senegal to push forward, hoping to unleash a swift counter-attack but the tactic created next to nothing in the way of chances for them.
The best opportunity of the opening period fell to Senegal skipper Cheikhou Kouyaté. Keita Baldé’s cross fell to him after Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa failed to connect with an attempted punch, but Kouyaté put his header over the bar.
Senegal continued to be the aggressors in the second period and Mane’s cross from the byline was met by the head of Mame Biram Diouf, but Ondoa made the save at the second attempt.
Cameroon’s first real opening came on 66 minutes when Christian Bassogog fed Benjamin Moukandjo eight yards out, but the latter’s low shot produced a fine save from Senegal keeper Abdoulaye Diallo.
Idrissa Gueye forced a stop from Ondoa in the final five minutes of ordinary time, as Mane put the rebound the wrong side of the post and the game went to extra-time.
Opportunities were rare for Cameroon but they got a big one just seconds before halftime in extra-time as substitute Jacques Zoua found himself one-on-one with Diallo, but his shot was beaten away by the keeper.
The match went into penalties and after the first eight were scored, Mane missed his while Vincent Aboubakar scored the decisive kick to send pre-tournament favourites Senegal tumbling out of the competition.
Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso booked a Semi Final place after an impressive 2-0 victory over Tunisia in Libreville.
The introduction of forward Aristide Bance late in the game swung the momentum in favour of the Burkinabe as he opened the scoring and Prejuce Nakoulma added a breakaway second.
After a physical cagey opening, the first real chance fell to Tunisia's Yassine Khenissi, but he put his header over the bar.
Burkina Faso came close on 22 minuted when Nakoulma created a chance for Bertrand Traore, whose chip to the far side of the goal struck the top of the crossbar.
Tunisia went close themselves just past the half-hour mark when midfielder Mohamed Ben Amor received the ball 30-yards out and saw his shot whistle just wide.
The game meandered along until the 80th minute when substitute Bance drilled home a free-kick, low and hard into the bottom corner.
Tunisia will feel aggrieved with the free-kick decision as the ball appeared to strike the Tunisian defender's chest and not his arm, but referee Daniel Bennett thought differently.
Bance almost grabbed a second soon afterwards later when his shot hit the post and Nakoulma saw his shot from the rebound cleared off the line.
It was 2-0 moments later when Tunisia's corner was cleared and Nakoulma raced clear. Tunisia keeper Aymen Mathlouthi met him just before the halfway line, but the Burkina Faso forward rounded him and passed the ball into an empty net.
Photo Credit : Cafonline
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