Sadio Mane scored a sublime goal to help Senegal to a 2-0 over Cape Verde on Tuesday and move into the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals.

The encounter at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam saw two players sent off.

It swung the way of Senegal when Patrick Andrade was dismissed after 21 minutes following a VAR check on a foul on Pape Gueye.

Cape Verde, who scraped into the knockout phase as one of the top third-placed teams in the groups, proceeded to contain Aliou Cisse’s side to good effect.

It helped them to keep alive their chances of reaching the last eight for the first time since 2013.

However, another VAR intervention just before the hour mark left them with an arduous task, goalkeeper Vozinha eventually being shown a red card.

He was shown the card while sitting on the sidelines for treatment.

This was after a nasty clash of heads with Mane when the Liverpool forward was chasing a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty box.

It was a moment of brilliance from Mane that finally broke the deadlock as he curled a finish in off the crossbar from 18 yards out following a corner-kick.

But the goal only stood after another VAR review into a possible foul in the build-up.

Apparently still feeling the effects of his collision with Vozinha, Mane was substituted seven minutes later.

He could be a doubt for the last-eight meeting with either Mali or Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Senegal, who are the only side at the 2022 finals yet to concede a goal, made certain of a place in the next round through Bamba Dieng’s composed finish. This came as they counter-attacked in injury time.

(NAN)