Senegal left it late to defeat Congo 3-1 in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at the Alphonse Massamba Debat Stadium.
After defeating Togo 2-0 in their first match of the qualification series, the Lions of Teranga travelled to Brazzaville full of positivity.
For the hosts – who had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Namibia last time out – they needed to escape defeat to remain with a good chance to secure a World Cup ticket.
The Red Devils had the first chance to score, but goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was well-positioned to save Dylan Saint-Louis’ eighth-minute effort.
Despite Congo’s attacking forays, it was the Senegalese who found the net first courtesy of Boulaye Dia after he was teed up by Kalidou Koulibaly.
A minute before the halftime break, Paul Put’s side restored parity after Sylvere Ganvoula beat Mendy from the penalty mark following a foul on Prestige Mboungou inside the area.
With the game looking destined for a draw, Ismaila Sarr put Senegal ahead in the 83rd minute before Mane guaranteed the win four minutes later from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box.
Thanks to this result, the West Africans lead Group H with six points from two matches.
At Stade de Marrakech, Algeria were held to a 1-1 draw by the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up, Burkina Faso.
Buoyed by their 8-0 obliteration of Djibouti, the reigning African kings travelled to in Marrakesh full of confidence.
Unsurprisingly, they went a goal up in the 17th minute thanks to Soufiane Feghouli. Profiting from a Youce Belaili pass, Islam Slimani teed up Galatasaray winger Slimani who tapped into an empty net.
They almost doubled their advantage seven minutes later but Riyad Mahrez’s freekick was saved by goalkeeper Herve Koffi.
In the second half, Burkina Faso put up an improved performance which saw them level matters through Abdoul Tapsoba.
Even at the result, Djamel Belmadi’s lead Group A with four points, while Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Djibouti follow in that sequence.
Elsewhere, Guinea Bissau travelled to Omdurman and hammered hosts Sudan 4-2.
Piqueti got a first-half double while Frederic Mendy and Mama Balde were among the goal scorers in the six-goal thriller.
The Falcons of Jediane got their goals through Mohamed Abdel Rahman, but that could not stop them from crumbling at home.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Cape Verde 1-2 Nigeria
Ethiopia 1-0 Zimbabwe
Malawi 1-0 Mozambique
Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar
Zambia 0-2 Tunisia
Congo 1-3 Senegal
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Mauritania
Angola 0-1 Libya
Burkina Faso 1-1 Algeria
Sudan 2-4 Guinea Bissau
