MONGOMO: Senegal need a point from their last Group ‘C’ tie to reach the African Nations Cup quarter-finals after fighting back for a 1-1 draw with South Africa on Friday.

Senegal are top with four points followed by Algeria and Ghana on three and South Africa on one with the two qualifying spots from the group still up for grabs ahead of the final round of matches next Tuesday.

South Africa have the hardest task to reach the quarter-finals with just a point so far, but even Bafana Bafana are not out of it ahead of the last games. They must beat Ghana and hope Senegal beat Algeria to sneak through from last in the group.

“Anything can happen,” South Africa coach Ephraim Mashaba said. “Football has its own miracles.”

South Africa, who lost their opener 3-1 to Algeria after a comedy of errors, again let slip a lead. Oupa Manyisa was unmarked at the back post to tuck the ball away after Senegal failed to clear a cross from Anele Ngcongca in the 47th minute.

Senegal had a Sadio Mane equaliser disallowed for offside but they were level on the hour mark when Kara Mbodji met a free-kick from the right flank with a towering header into the net.

“We again had the better of the chances but we didn’t shoot,” said Mashaba.

Senegal’s French coach Alain Giresse said: “Nothing is settled. The final day will be fatal. That shows how difficult a group this is.”

Published in Dawn January 25th , 2015

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