AFCON Weekend Round Up: Mané and Salah Both Shine

Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah both helped their respective countries make it to the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations this weekend. Salah, representing the host nation Egypt, scored another goal in their final game against Uganda, which they won 2-0. This is Salah’s second goal of the tournament, and it came in the 36th minute off of a direct free kick.

Egypt came out on top of group A, winning all three of their matches and not conceding a single goal. Their Round of 16 opponent is yet to be decided, but they will play that match on Saturday in Cairo.

Sadio Mané had a much more eventful match on Monday against Kenya. The brilliant winger first missed a penalty for Senegal in the 29th, but then followed that up with a brace, including a successful penalty, to give them a 3-0 victory. Their win was added by Kenyan player Philemon Otieno being sent off for a second yellow in the 76th minute, but by then Senegal was already two to the good.

The win earned them second place in group C. This means that on Friday, it will be Mané’s turn to take a crack at Uganda in the Round of 16.

Naby Keïta was an unused substitute in Guinea’s 2-0 win over Burundi, and was subsequently sent back to Merseyside due to injury. The win put them in third place and gives them a chance to make the knockout rounds. Either way, though, Keïta will not be involved.