AFCON: Mane Concussed but Scores Before Being Removed, as Senegal Reach Quarter Finals.

Senegalese professional footballer, Sadio Mane scored as Senegal beat nine-man Cape Verde 2-0 in the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, but was immediately forced off with a bang on the head. Mane curled in off the underside of the crossbar soon after keeper Vozinha had been dismissed over a nasty clash of heads with the Liverpool forward. Mane continued despite appearing to be briefly knocked out in the incident.

After celebrating his goal, he lay down halfway, and before the game restarted, he was led off the field. The match in Bafoussam was preceded by a minute’s silence for the victims of the crush at the Olembe Stadium on Monday. Senegal will face either Mali or Equatorial Guinea in the last eight on Sunday.

Tournament organisers of the Confederation of African Football may have questions to answer about their concussion protocols after Vozinha and Liverpool striker Mane were both floored in the 53rd minute. The Cape Verde keeper rushed out of his box in an attempt to intercept a long kick downfield by Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy and collided head-first at pace with Mane, who had got to the ball first and headed forward.

Following a lengthy stoppage, a clearly groggy Vozinha was about to be substituted but, following a video assistant referee review, deserved to receive Cape Verde’s second red card for his reckless challenge, somehow Mane was deemed fit to continue and, after having a shot saved by substitute keeper Marcio Rosa, Mane then broke the deadlock from the resulting corner. Senegal manager Aliou Cisse said Mane had been taken to hospital following the game, that he felt faint, his head was spinning and he had to go there.

Mane later posted a picture from his hospital bed of himself and Vozinha on his Instagram account, adding that everything was well.

Mane’s head clash was really uncomfortable to watch. It was clear that the Liverpool forward was knocked out as he fell and hit his head again on the turf – he looked like a defeated boxer. Meanwhile, the Cape Verde keeper couldn’t walk straight before being ushered away by his teammates following his red card.

Senegal were runners-up in 2019 and remain among the favourites to win the Nations Cup, but coach Aliou Cisse will need further improvements in the final third if the West Africans are to lift the trophy for the first time. #