Substitutes Cheikhou Kouyate and Ismaila Sarr made decisive contributions as Senegal beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to succeed in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Crystal Palace midfielder Kouyate had solely been on the pitch for 2 minutes when he capitalised on some woeful defending to revive Senegal’s lead after Jannick Buyla had cancelled out Famara Diedhiou’s opener.
And Sarr then completed off an outstanding transfer 11 minutes from time as he made his first look for membership or nation since scoring in Watford’s 4-1 win over Manchester United on November 20.
Sadio Mane accomplished 90 minutes regardless of the worrying head damage he suffered through the last-16 tie in opposition to Cape Verde and the Liverpool ahead arrange the opening purpose with a pinpoint cross to Diedhiou, permitting the Alanyaspor striker to fireplace dwelling on the close to publish.
Equatorial Guinea have been awarded a penalty early within the second half when Iban Edu flicked the ball on to the hand of Kalidou Koulibaly, just for the referee to be instructed by VAR to have a look at the pitchside monitor earlier than reversing his choice.
Maybe fuelled by a way of injustice, the underdogs continued to push ahead and deservedly equalised after 57 minutes, Buyla firing dwelling with the skin of his proper foot after being performed in by Pablo Ganet’s chic reverse cross.
Nonetheless, Senegal edged again in entrance 10 minutes later when Equatorial Guinea did not clear a nook, two defenders went for a similar ball and Akapo Martinez succeeded solely in heading it backwards for Kouyate to nip in entrance of the goalkeeper and prod dwelling.
And fellow substitute Sarr put the outcome past doubt when he side-footed into an empty internet from Saliou Ciss’s low cross following an excellent cross-field cross from Koulibaly.
Senegal will face Burkina Faso within the final 4.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
