Ten-man Senegal overcame a gallant Benin 3-0 on Tuesday to finish top of Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Central defender Abdoulaye Seck put Senegal ahead at halftime, and Habib Diallo and substitute Cherif Ndiaye scored after the break.

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off for a clumsy tackle with around 20 minutes left, however, and will be suspended going into the knockout stages.

Senegal finished with seven points, ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who beat Botswana 3-0 in Rabat, on goal difference.

Senegal must now wait to find out the identity of their last-16 opponents who will be either Burkina Faso or Sudan in Tangier on Saturday while Benin, who advance as one of the best third-placed finishers, head to Agadir to face Egypt on Monday.

There was a lengthy VAR check before Seck’s 38th-minute goal was validated, but television replays showed the ball had come off Seck’s elbow rather than his head.

Sadio Mane set up the second for Diallo in the 63rd minute, taking on the Benin defence down the left flank before pulling the ball back for Diallo to sweep home.

Koulibaly was sent off seven minutes later after catching Benin’s Aiyegun Tosin on the back of his heel with a late challenge. Rwandan referee Samuel Uwikunda took several minutes and watched multiple replays on the sideline screen before making the decision to dismiss the Senegal skipper.

Even with the numerical disadvantage, however, Senegal were stronger and 17-year-old substitute Ibrahima Mbaye forced a penalty as he broke away, only to be clipped by Rachid Moumouni. Ndiaye, who had only just come on to the pitch, fired home the spot-kick to make it 3-0.

Benin’s best chance came from a free kick in the last five minutes, which Junior Olaitan struck on target, but Edouard Mendy made a flying save.

Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s possible Round of 16 opponents at the Africa Cup of Nations have narrowed significantly following the conclusion of Groups A and B, with the Super Eagles now set to face one of the third-placed teams from Groups A, B or F.

Having topped Group C with a perfect nine points, Nigeria are due to be paired with a third-placed finisher under the tournament’s knockout-stage format.

In Group A, Comoros finished third with two points and a goal difference of minus two. Group B also produced a third-placed side, with Angola ending the group phase with a superior goal difference of minus one.

Both Comoros and Angola are therefore not in contention to be drawn against Nigeria. As Mozambique already have three points in Group F, even before playing their last group match against Cameroon, slated for Friday, they are the most likely opponents of the Super Eagles in the Round of 16 duel in Fes on January 5.

But Group F remains the final variable in the equation, with its third-placed team yet to be confirmed. The top three positions are still swinging.

Once that group is decided, tournament organisers will finalise the best third-placed table and officially confirm Nigeria’s Round of 16 opponent. Either Côte d’Ivoire or Cameroon could still drop to the third position.

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By Kunle Solaja

Uganda made unwanted Africa Cup of Nations history on Tuesday after becoming the first team to use three goalkeepers in a single AFCON match, during their Group C defeat to Nigeria in Fes.

The unprecedented sequence unfolded in Uganda’s final group game at the Africa Cup of Nations, a match that ultimately ended in a 3–1 loss to Nigeria and confirmed the Cranes’ elimination from the competition.

Uganda began the match with their veteran first-choice goalkeeper, Denis Onyango, but the experienced shot-stopper was forced off at half-time after picking up an injury. His withdrawal prompted head coach Paul Put to introduce Salim Magoola at the start of the second half.

Magoola’s appearance, however, proved brief and dramatic. In the 56th minute, the substitute goalkeeper rushed out of his penalty area and used his hands to stop a goal-bound effort from Victor Osimhen. The infringement occurred several yards outside the box, leaving the referee with no option but to show a straight red card.

The dismissal forced Uganda into further improvisation, compelling Put to call on his third-choice goalkeeper, Nafian Alionzi, who entered the match cold with his team already trailing and down to 10 men.

Despite Alionzi’s introduction, Nigeria took full advantage of their numerical superiority, scoring twice in quick succession to effectively decide the contest. Uganda later pulled back a consolation goal through Rogers Mato, but the damage had long been done.

Tournament statisticians confirmed after the match that Uganda’s triple-goalkeeper rotation was a first in Africa Cup of Nations history, underlining the chaotic nature of a campaign that saw the East Africans struggle for stability both on and off the pitch.

Uganda exited the tournament without a win, extending their long wait for an AFCON victory, while Nigeria advanced to the knockout phase with a perfect group-stage record. For Uganda, however, the night in Fes will be remembered less for the result and more for a record they would rather not own.

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