In the absence of 11 players from Senegal .. a fatal penalty kick from the Liverpool star stuns Zimbabwe

Senegal needed a penalty kick in the seventh minute of time, instead of a missed move by Liverpool star Sadio Mane, to overtake Zimbabwe 1-0, Monday, in the opening matches of Group B in the African Nations Cup at Koekong Stadium in the Cameroonian city of Bafoussam.

The match was on its way to a negative draw, before the "Teranga Lions" grabbed a frustrating penalty kick for their opponents after a handball in a deadly time, for Senegal to top the group, awaiting the match between Guinea and Malawi, which will be held later on the same stadium.

Eleven players were absent from Senegal due to Corona, including Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, his replacement, Alfred Gomis, and Napoli Italian defender Kalidou Coulibaly.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had confirmed that the teams would play their matches in the continental championship, even if they had only 11 players.

Senegal is seeking to crown the continental title for the first time, after two losses in the final, in 2019 against Algeria (1-0) and in 2002 against Cameroon (0-0, 3-2 on penalties).

Senegal is making its 16th appearance in the tournament, a record for a team that has never won the title, while Zimbabwe have not made it past the group stage in four appearances.

Zimbabwe's Marvelous Nkampa, Aston Villa's English player, and fellow midfielder Marshall Montesey, Rennes's French player, will be absent due to injury.

With a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, the first half was average in terms of technical level, in light of a clustered defense from Zimbabwe in front of an ineffective Senegalese attack for Mane's companions, who wasted alone in front of goalkeeper Petros Mahari (24).

The second half was similar, with Senegal pressed without serious chances.

While the match was breathing its last, Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar awarded a penalty kick after a handball on Calvin Madzungwe, translated by Mane, raising his score to 27 goals with his country (90 + 7).

This is Senegal's third successive victory over Zimbabwe in the tournament after 2006 and 2017, when it came out victorious with two goals.

Since 2017, Senegal have kept more clean sheets than any other team in the tournament (9 out of 12 matches).

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