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Senegal Secures Quarter-Final Spot As North African Derby Favours Tunisia

Senegal Secures Quarter-Final Spot As North African Derby Favours Tunisia

Senegal beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Franceville on Thursday night, securing their quarter-final place as the first country to ensure progression to the knockout stages of the competition.

The victory and three points ensured six total points in the group, thanks to Tunisia’s earlier 2-1 win over their North African rivals Algeria.

Senegal came out guns blazing, putting heavy pressure on their southern African opponents from the early stages of the encounter.

The pressure produced the opener on nine minutes, with Sadio Mane getting on the end of Keita Balde’s low cross to score after a quick counter attack.

The West Africans continued to press, and on 13 minutes the Teranga Lions made it 2-0 thanks to a stunner from Henri Saivet.

The midfielder scored with a wonderfully taken free kick from 25 metres out, beating Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva from distance.

Once Senegal had that decisive lead, they managed the situation well and ensured that they maintained enough momentum to keep Zimbabwe pegged back, securing a 2-0 victory after 90 minutes.

Tunisia takes North African derby

Highly favoured Algeria disappointed in Thursday’s earlier game, falling 2-1 to Tunisia after dreadful defending handed their North African rivals the advantage on two occasions.

Algeria captain Aissa Mandi scored an own goal when he deflected Youssef Msakni’s cross past his own keeper in the 49th minute.

Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri was fouled in the box 16 minutes later, gifting the Carthage Eagles a penalty.

Naim Sliti made it 2-0 from the spot, and the game would be without further strikes until extra time when Algerian substitute Sofiane Hanni scored a consolation to make it 2-1.

The result means that the Fennec Foxes are bottom of Group B with only a single point from two games, while Senegal move on to a quarter-final.

Group B will conclude with their final group stage matches on Monday, with Senegal facing Algeria in Franceville, while Zimbabwe clash with Tunisia in Libreville.