Mane's 10th AFCON Goal and a 17-Year-Old Star Rescue Senegal in 1-1 Draw

It's a blend of veteran wisdom and youthful energy. Sadio Mane scored a crucial equalizer to earn Senegal a 1-1 draw against the DR Congo, keeping the defending champions at the top of Group D.

The Legend and the Prodigy: Senegal’s Comeback

The Leopards of DRC took the lead in the 61st minute through Cedric Bakambu after a sharp move parried by Edouard Mendy. However, Senegal’s response was swift, thanks to 17-year-old substitute Ibrahim Mbaye. The PSG winger, who recently committed to Senegal, dazzled with a run down the right, leading to Mane's clinical finish.

This marked Mane's 10th goal in AFCON history as he competes in his 6th tournament. Both teams now sit on 4 points, but Senegal maintains the lead via goal difference before their final clash against Benin on Tuesday.

Benin Makes History with First-Ever AFCON Win

In a milestone moment, Benin secured their first-ever victory in the tournament's history by defeating Botswana1-0. It took them 16 attempts since their debut in 2004 to finally taste glory. Yohan Roche’s deflected shot in the 28th minute was enough to put them level with the group leaders in terms of competitiveness, moving to 3 points in the table.