The Republic of Congo played Senegal tough in Brazzaville on Tuesday, but familiar faces provided the important moments of class to help the Teranga Lions prevail in the second half for a 1-3 road win in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Ismaïla Sarr and Sadio Mané each scored in the final ten minutes of the match to make it two wins from two for Senegal and keep them at the top of Group H with Namibia trailing by two points. Congo join Togo at the bottom of the group and the odds are long of either catching a high flying Senegalese squad.
Les Diables Rouges were set on making life difficult for the favorites from West Africa and were in the match for most of the ninety minutes. They nearly put themselves in front for a surprise lead in the 9th minute when Dylan Saint-Louis was sent in on goal, but the Hatayspor forward could not apply the finish past Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy after attempting to round the Chelsea FC player.
Clinical finishing put the visitors out in front in the 27th minute. Stalwart center back Kalidou Koulibaly stormed forward beyond the halfway line and provided a well weighted pass to put striker Boulaye Dia in on the Congolese goal. The Villarreal hitman calmly slotted his shot past Congo goalie Christopher Mafoumbi and it was 1-0 to the favorites. However, just before halftime Republic of Congo’s Vieljeux Mboungou was pulled down by Ibrahima Mbaye in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded for Silvere Ganvoula to convert and level the match.
Republic of Congo did well to keep out the vaunted Senegalese attack for most of the second half and keep Mané relatively silent. However, they could not find the go ahead goal and it was only a matter of time before Senegal came knocking. The decisive moment came in the 82nd minute for the Teranga Lions. An attack down the left flank led to a low cross finding an onrushing Sarr whose low shot snuck underneath Mafoumbi and trickled just over the line for Senegal’s second. The Congolese defeat was completed only a minute later when a poor back pass Varel Rozan allowed Mané in and Senegal’s star was tripped up by Mafoumbi for a penalty kick. Mané had no issues converting the spot kick and the three points were secure for Senegal.
Highlights from the match are in the link below.
