After the poor performance against Burkina Faso (1-1) last Friday, the Senegal National Team beat Burundi this Monday in Lilongwe (0-1). If the result is there, the manner remains…
A victory that is good for everyone. If not really reassuring. Three days after the frustrating but far from illogical draw against Burkina Faso (1-1), the Senegal National Team returned to success by winning against Burundi in Lilongwe,the capital of Malawi (0-1). Aliou Cisse’s men have at least ensured the essential, by winning their first victory in this qualifying phase for the next African Cup of Nations. But, once again, they did not really put in the manner.
Lions still not very precise
Five changes of men and a game system that goes from 3-5-2 to the more usual 4-3-3, but a still sluggish performance. Despite the clear review of the squad carried out by Aliou Cissé, the Lions still had all the trouble in the world to really establish their game and impose their status at the Bingu National Stadium. Like Burkina on Friday, Burundi has long been able to show solidity at the back. The Burundian defense, dense and led by Nice’s Youssouf Ndayishimiye, repelled the numerous crosses and blocked the Senegalese shots.
Lacking precision in the final move, especially from Ismail Jakobs and sometimes Mané, the Lions slowed down the pace after the first quarter of an hour. However, there was often Sadio Mané on his side to accelerate. Concentrated on the timid attempts Senegalese, notably from Nicolas Jackson (18th), Burundian goalkeeper Mattéo Nkurunziza made a great save to prevent Mané from opening the scoring (22nd). Restless, Ismaila Sarr thought he had provoked an own goal from Ndayishimiye, but his ball had crossed the exit line (32nd).
Jackson still in the rough
Without solutions at the break, Aliou Cissé’s men came back from the locker room with better intentions. By pressing the accelerator in particular and guided by a much more enterprising and inspired Lamine Camara on his passes, Senegal knew how to destabilize the Rwandan block and find good gaps. Launched by Camara, Nicolas Jackson had made the difference to center towards Sadio Mané. If the ball is blocked, it came back to the feet of the Chelsea striker, who, alone in front of the goal, completely missed the target.
Once is not customary. The Senegalese center forward and former Villarreal player shone by his lack of efficiency and his discretion. Deprived of balls in the first half, he only touched 9 at the break, for 22 until his exit in the hour of play (61st). If the entry of Habib Diallo andIliman Ndiaye rather dynamited the Senegalese attack, it took a stroke of luck to get out of it. On a confused action in the Burundian surface, Aruna Mussa raised his foot too high and touched Sadio Mané’s face.
After a moment of hesitation, the Egyptian referee finally indicated the penalty spot… and Mané’s exit from the field, following the intervention of the Lions’ medical staff. It was therefore Ismaïla Sarr who had to take the penalty, perfectly struck to open the scoring (71st). Like a nice move by Iliman Ndiaye, which forced the Burundian goalkeeper to make an exceptional save (75th), Senegal created other situations to double the lead and avoid a new scenario in the DRC or Burkina. But there was no new cracking…
wiwsport.com
