Senegal’s Mane Secures Last-Minute Win Against Malawi, Securing AFCON Spot
Summary:
Sadio Mane scored in the 96th minute, giving Senegal a 1-0 win over Malawi in Group L.
Senegal, with 10 points, joins Burkina Faso in securing a place in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Surprises from other games saw Ivory Coast lose to Sierra Leone and Ghana on the brink of elimination after a defeat by Sudan.
Senegal’s Teranga Lions earned a dramatic late victory against Malawi, thanks to a 96th-minute goal from Sadio Mane. The result puts Senegal on 10 points in Group L, ensuring qualification for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Despite recent coaching changes, Senegal’s victory reinforces their position among Africa’s elite teams.
The 2021 AFCON champions demonstrated resilience under pressure, clinching victory in the game’s final moments as Mane, now with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scored the decisive goal in Lilongwe. The result saw Senegal join Burkina Faso as the first teams from Group L to secure their places in Morocco next year.
Elsewhere, surprises abounded on the final day of qualifiers. Ivory Coast, current AFCON titleholders, were stunned in a 1-0 defeat to Sierra Leone, while Ghana’s hopes of qualifying hang by a thread after a defeat by Sudan. Ghana, third in Group F with only two points from four games, now needs to win both of their remaining matches and rely on Sudan losing both of theirs.
Senegal’s last-gasp victory, coupled with unexpected results from other teams, underscores the unpredictable nature of African qualifiers. With just one qualifying round remaining, fans await the final teams to join the lineup for the 2025 AFCON, set to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.
