Sadio Mane netted a brace as Senegal beat Kenya 3-0 to book their place in the last 16 of the ongoing 2019 Afcon finals in Egypt. The Liverpool FC forward had a first-half penalty saved by Kenya goal keeper Patrick Matasi before he added to Ismaila Sarr’s volley with a well placed effort.
Mane later converted a second spot-kick after Philemon Otieno was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Sarr late in the second half. Senegal, who are favorites face Uganda that only made it to the last 16 for the first time since 1978 when they lost on the final to Ghana.
The two sides face off this Friday night at the Cairo International stadium and Allan Kyambadde is looking forward for more playing time after a relatively good show so far.
The KCCA FC forward was a surprise inclusion to the final squad but Head Coach Sebastien Desabre has trusted him with playing time –appearing in all the three group stage matches for the Cranes.
He came on as a substitute during the first two games of DR Congo and Zimbabwe before starting against Egypt in the last Group A fixture.
“The coach trusting me with playing time is enough motivation for me to work harder. I can’t let him down because I have to prove that he selects me on merit,” noted Kyambadde, who claims that he was not surprised by his inclusion on the final squad and getting playing time.
“I have labored to achieve this for a while and I think I deserved to be here,” he added. Kyambadde, who is among the four home based players named among the 23-man Cranes Squad at AFCON, has also before featured for Express, Vipers SC and SC Villa. Victory for Cranes over Senegal assures Cranes of over Shs3bn in prize. Every quarter finalist gets $1m in prize money.
