Mane suffers head clash, scores, then subbed as Senegal reaches quarters

BAFOUSSAM, Cameroon (AP) — Sadio Mane got up from a horrible clash of heads that left him dazed on the ground — possibly with a concussion — to score a goal and help put Senegal into the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Senegal won 2-0 against Cape Verde, which had two players sent off in the last 16 game in Bafoussam.

The second red card was dished out to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha when he raced out of his area and tried to head a ball clear with Mane chasing it down. The players' heads clashed badly and Vozinha clearly sustained a concussion as he tried to get up afterward and ended up staggering around.

Vozinha left on a stretcher and wasn't around to see the red card referee Lahlou Benbraham held up for him.

But questions will be raised over Mane being allowed to continue after he hit the ground face first following the collision and lay still on his back for a moment, clearly dazed, possibly with a concussion.

The Liverpool forward scored less than 10 minutes later in the 63rd minute when a corner kick floated over everyone and fell to him, and he sent a right-footed shot back across goal and in off the crossbar.

Mane was eventually substituted in the 70th minute, more than 15 minutes after sustaining the head knock that appeared serious enough for him to be taken off immediately.

Senegal finished Cape Verde off with a second goal from a breakaway in injury time, when Bamba Dieng slid the ball past replacement goalkeeper Marcio Rosa.

Cape Verde was up against it from the 21st minute when Patrick Andrade was sent off for a tackle on Pape Gueye that earned him a yellow card first, then a red when referee Benbraham reviewed it on VAR. He had also sent off goalkeeper Vozinha after consulting VAR.

The two red cards for Cape Verde meant seven red cards have been handed out in the first five knockout games of the African Cup. Every last 16 game has had at least one sending off.

The tournament continued with Senegal's victory a day after a crush outside the stadium at the Cameroon-Comoros last 16 game left eight people dead and seven others in a serious condition, throwing a shadow over the rest of Africa's top soccer tournament.

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