Sadio Mane Scores Two Goals in 100th Senegal Appearance and Celebrates

Sadio Mane, the celebrated Senegal player, marked his 100th appearance for the national team by scoring twice in a 4-0 victory over South Sudan in a World Cup qualifying match. Mane, who has been named African Footballer of the Year twice, also assisted in creating a goal for his team. Despite the success on the field, the match had to be played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble.

In addition to Mane’s performance, other African teams also had their share of victories in the World Cup qualifiers. Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa all secured wins in their respective matches, while Morocco received a bye as Eritrea withdrew without explanation.

The second round of matches kicks off with former World Cup qualifiers Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt, and Nigeria among the teams in action. The exciting start to the World Cup qualifiers promises more thrilling matches to come.
Sadio Mane celebrated his 100th Senegal appearance by scoring twice in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over South Sudan in an empty stadium near Dakar on Saturday. The Saudi Arabia-based forward, who has been voted African Footballer of the Year twice, also created a goal in the Group B first-round match before being substituted. This triumphant performance took reigning African champions Senegal to the top of the group, ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo on goal difference, as they strive for a third straight World Cup appearance in 2026.

The only setback for Mane and his teammates was that the match had to be staged behind closed doors after crowd trouble in a game against Egypt last year.

Mane assisted Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Sarr to score just 37 seconds into the first half with a low shot past South Sudan goalkeeper Majak Mawith. He then scored himself five minutes later, running onto a backheel from Habib Diallo and shrugging off a shirt pull by an opponent to fire home from close range.

Mawith, one of several Australia-based players in the South Sudan side, was beaten again in the final minute of the opening half as Lamine Camara fired into the net. Mane completed the scoring on 56 minutes by converting a penalty in the last of 26 matchday one fixtures in Africa.

There should have been 27 matches, but Eritrea withdrew without giving an explanation, leaving shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco with a Group E bye.

Morocco will be away on Tuesday to Tanzania, who began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Niger through a 56th-minute goal from debutant Charles M’Mombwa. Tanzania trails Zambia, who defeated Congo Brazzaville 4-2 on Friday, on goal difference in a group Morocco is expected to dominate.

South Africa, whose last World Cup appearance was 13 years ago as hosts, went to the top of Group C with a labored 2-1 win over Benin in Durban. Goals early and late in the first half from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau gave Bafana Bafana (The Boys) a two-goal halftime advantage.

The second round kicks off on Sunday with former World Cup qualifiers Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt, and Nigeria among 10 teams in action.