APA-Dakar (Senegal) Faced with a resilient Mena side, the Lions owed their salvation to a last-gasp goal from Formose Mendy.
On the road to the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON), where their title is at stake, Senegal faced Niger on Monday evening. In this friendly, played at the Stade President Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of Dakar, coach Aliou Cissé did not line up with his usual starting eleven, making eight changes during the match.
Sadio Mane, who recently got married, did not take part in the squad review. From the bench, the world star witnessed his team-mates’ great difficulty in getting round the Nigerien block.
In both the first and second half, the Lions were rarely able to get into a good position to beat the opposing goalkeeper. Pape Gueye fired several shots from distance. Lamine Camara and Ismail Jakobs failed to find the target from set-pieces. Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr lacked technical precision in the final third.
Appointed Niger coach at the end of December 2023, Morocco’s Badou Zaki has so far managed not to lose to the reigning African champions on his first outing with the Mena.
But from a corner kick at the far post by Lamine Camara, colossal central defender Abdoulaye Seck found Formose Mendy with a header. The full-back then controlled the ball with his stomach before turning to score with his left foot into an empty net (1-0, 90’+9).
It was the latter chance of a closed game in a sparse stadium. When the referee blew his final whistle, Aliou Cissé and his Lions made their way around the stadium to cheer with the crowd.
This Tuesday, at the Palace of the Republic, they will receive the national flag from Head of State Macky Sall. The following day, they will travel to Côte d’Ivoire, the AfCON host country. Senegal Teranga Lions are in Group C in Yamoussoukro, along with Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea.
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