Sadio Mane got a hat-trick of goals as Senegal, the supreme Africa Cup of Nations champions, got their capability crusade for the 2023 version looking flying so far with a 3-1 win over Group L opponents Benin at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on Saturday night.
Mane's high pitch of strikes - two from the penalty spot - guaranteed the Teranga Lions kept away from any mistakes before a vocal group in Dakar and shot to the highest point of the gathering standings, two focuses in front of Rwanda and Mozambique (who drew 1-1 on Thursday).
Senegal guaranteed the lead as soon as the twelfth moment, with star assailant Sadio Mane terminating home a penalty to place the hosts in control. The spot kick was granted for a handball against Benin defender David Kiki as he slid in and endeavored to impede a shot from Pape Sarr.
Mane multiplied Senegal's benefit 10 minutes after the fact, blasting into the crate to lock onto Nampalys Mendy's prodding pass prior to seeing his low shot saved by Benin goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe - the bounce back returned directly to the Liverpool star, who tranquilly sent the ball into the rear of the net at the subsequent endeavor.
Benin offered just an irregular danger in assault, yet they were near pulling a goal back on 37 minutes when striker Steve Mounie got on the finish of a cross from the right flank and fueled a plunging header on track, however the work was directly at Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Mane nearly finished a first-half hat-trick when he cut inside from the left and let fly with a shot in physical issue time before the break, yet his work cut the highest point of the crossbar and left the score at 2-0 for the Teranga Lions at half time.
The groups exchanged half-risks from the get-go in the subsequent verse, before Benin were decreased to 10 men when defender Sessi D'Almeida staggered in a foot race with Mane and depended on skeptically pulling at the aggressor down a couple of meters outside the penalty region, procuring himself a straight red card.
Senegal then procured another penalty not long before the hour mark when Ismaila Sarr hoped to adjust Allagbe, yet was brought somewhere near the goalkeeper. Mane took on the spot kick and broke a strong shot into the corner to make it 3-0 and complete his hat-trick in the 60th moment.
With the three focuses guaranteed, the Teranga Lions decided on a heap of changes in assault and midfield, and they somewhat lost their going after cadence.
Benin, even with 10 men, had the option to make use and pull a goal back on 88 minutes when substitute Junior Olaitan run onto a fine through ball from midfield and struck a low shot home from the right of the penalty region.
The groups will get back to Group L activity in the approaching midweek, with Senegal confronting Rwanda in Dakar on Tuesday 7 June and Benin facilitating Mozambique in Cotonou on Wednesday 8 June.
Senegal (2) 3 (Mane 12' pen, 22', 60' pen)
Benin (0) 1 (Olaitan 88')
Senegal: E. Mendy, Sabaly, Diallo, Koulibaly, Ciss (B. Toure 77'), P. Gueye (Kouyate 67'), N. Mendy (I. Gueye 76'), P. Sarr, I. Sarr, Mane (Balde 86'), Dia (Ndiaye 67')
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