Senegal powered into the quarter-finals of the Total Energies African Nations Championship (CHAN) after an emphatic 3-0 victory over DR Congo on Sunday.
The Teranga Lions defeated the two-time winners in their final Group B match played at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba to secure their place in the knock-out stage of the ongoing tournament in Algeria.
A first half goal by OsmaneDiouf along with a Pape Diallo strike which was coupled by an unfortunate own goal by Siadi Baggio ensured the west Africans top the group and subsequently advance to the last eight.
Looking at redeeming themselves from the loss to Uganda, Senegal was the first to ask questions as early as the 6th minute when Ousmane Kane thought he had beaten the offside trap with his goal but was judged to be offside by VAR
Papa Diallo, who was a nuisance to the DR Congo defence should have put his side ahead in the 11th minute after a through ball from Elimane Cisse found the forward free on goal as he dragged his shot wide off target with the keeper at his mercy.
Minutes later, it was DR Congo’s Elie Mpanzu who squandered a glorious opportunity to grab the lead after doing well to control a cross from the left, but with just the keeper to beat, the forward opted for a cross which went wayward as Senegal survived the threat.
The Teranga Lions continued piling on the pressure, sending numbers forward in search of the all-important lead and were eventually rewarded when a good build up play concluded with an easy tap-in by an unexpected Ousmane Diouf in the 23rd minute.
Things moved from bad to worse for DR Congo when Kevin Mondeko was sent for an early shower after bringing down Cheikh Diouf on the edge of the box in a clear goal-scoring opportunity. —cafonline
