Africa Cup of Nations - Group B
MalawiMalawi0SenegalSenegal0

Afcon 2021: Senegal top Group B despite Malawi draw

Senegal's defender Saliou Ciss (left) vies with Malawi forward Khuda Muyaba
Senegal, Nations Cup runners-up in 2019, only scored one goal in three Group B matches

Senegal finished top of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Malawi.

Habib Diallo and Sadio Mane went close for Senegal, while Malawi had the award of a penalty overturned following a video assistant referee review.

The Flames thought they had a spot-kick in the 74th minute when left-back Gomezgani Chirwa went down under the challenge of Bouna Sarr.

But referee Blaise Yuven Ngwa reversed his decision after studying replays.

Malawi finish third in the table on four points and could yet qualify for the last 16 in Cameroon as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.

Senegal, Nations Cup runners-up in 2019, only scored one goal in their three group matches - Mane's 97th-minute winner against Zimbabwe in their opener.

The Teranga Lions will face a third-placed side from Group A, C or D in the last 16 on Tuesday, 25 January.

Senegal yet to click in Cameroon

Senegal were back to full strength for the first time, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly making their first appearances following bouts of Covid-19 and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye also returning after a positive test.

Yet Aliou Cisse's side - among the pre-tournament favourites - were still lacking fluency and end product, and Malawi were the more threatening side in the first half after Mane lifted an early chance over the bar.

Koulibaly had to be alert to shut down Gabadinho Mhango twice, while the Flames forward had a free-kick deflected wide.

Meanwhile, Mendy, who was named Best Fifa men's goalkeeper on Monday, had to help a Chirwa cross behind.

Senegal improved after the break as Diallo's header and Mane's curling free-kick from wide on the left were pushed over the bar by Malawi goalkeeper Charles Thomu.

Sarr put a diving header wide and, after Malawi's penalty award was overturned, Senegal substitute Famara Diedhiou almost netted a sensational first-time volley having chested down a long ball.

Malawi tired as the game wore on, but could yet find themselves in the knockout stages for the first time in their history, having reached the Nations Cup for only the third time.

Line-ups

Malawi

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1ThomuBooked at 83mins
  • 2Sanudi
  • 15ChaziyaBooked at 57mins
  • 5Chembezi
  • 21Chirwa
  • 7MhoneSubstituted forChesterat 67'minutes
  • 8IdanaSubstituted forNgalandeat 80'minutes
  • 17Banda
  • 10MadingaSubstituted forPhiriat 79'minutes
  • 22MuyabaSubstituted forMbuluat 67'minutes
  • 11Mhango

Substitutes

  • 3Petro
  • 4Cholopi
  • 6Chirwa
  • 9Mbulu
  • 12Fodyah
  • 13Banda
  • 14Ngalande
  • 20Chester
  • 23Thole
  • 25Ndhlovu
  • 26Davie
  • 27Phiri

Senegal

Formation 4-3-3

  • 16Mendy
  • 20Sarr
  • 3Koulibaly
  • 22Diallo
  • 2CissSubstituted forBallo-Touréat 85'minutes
  • 8KouyatéBooked at 19mins
  • 6MendySubstituted forGueyeat 72'minutesBooked at 75mins
  • 5Gueye
  • 9DiaSubstituted forDiédhiouat 72'minutes
  • 11DialloSubstituted forDiengat 60'minutes
  • 10Mané

Substitutes

  • 1Dieng
  • 4Cissé
  • 7Keita
  • 12Ballo-Touré
  • 15Dieng
  • 17Sarr
  • 19Diédhiou
  • 21Mbaye
  • 23Gomis
  • 25Loum
  • 26Gueye
  • 27Thiam
Referee:
Blaise Yuven Ngwa

Match Stats

Home TeamMalawiAway TeamSenegal
Possession
Home22%
Away78%
Shots
Home10
Away10
Shots on Target
Home0
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home18
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Malawi 0, Senegal 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Malawi 0, Senegal 0.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Malawi. Richard Mbulu tries a through ball, but Gabadinho Mhango is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Abdou Diallo (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi).

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Bamba Dieng (Senegal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Fodé Ballo-Touré with a cross.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Pape Gueye (Senegal).

  8. Post update

    Richard Mbulu (Malawi) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Famara Diédhiou (Senegal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kalidou Koulibaly with a through ball.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Gerald Phiri (Malawi) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing misses to the left. Assisted by John Banda.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Senegal. Fodé Ballo-Touré replaces Saliou Ciss.

  12. Post update

    Cheikhou Kouyaté (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Yamikani Chester (Malawi).

  14. Booking

    Charles Thomu (Malawi) is shown the yellow card.

  15. Post update

    Corner, Senegal. Conceded by Gerald Phiri.

  16. Post update

    Bamba Dieng (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Gomezgani Chirwa (Malawi).

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Malawi. Robin Ngalande replaces Chimwemwe Idana.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Malawi. Gerald Phiri replaces Francisco Madinga.

  20. Post update

    VAR Decision: No Penalty Malawi.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Cameroon32107347
2Burkina Faso31113304
3Cape Verde31112204
4Ethiopia301226-41

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Senegal31201015
2Guinea31112204
3Malawi31112204
4Zimbabwe310234-13

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Morocco32105237
2Gabon31204315
3Comoros310235-23
4Ghana301235-21

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Nigeria22004136
2Egypt21011103
3Guinea-Bissau201101-11
4Sudan201113-21

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ivory Coast21103214
2Equatorial Guinea21011103
3Sierra Leone20202202
4Algeria201101-11

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Gambia21102114
2Mali21102114
3Tunisia21014133
4Mauritania200205-50
View full Africa Cup of Nations tables

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