Senegal international Sadio Mane has expressed satisfaction following his outfit stalemate against DR Congo at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Taranga Lions came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw on Saturday in their second Group D match against the Leopards in a high-stake clash.
The opening half ended without goals, with both sides cancelling each other out in a tense and tactical contest.
The game burst into life after the restart, and it was DR Congo who struck first through Cédric Bakambu. The experienced forward reacted quickest to a rebound from Theo Bongonda and took advantage of a brief lapse by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to fire the Leopards ahead in the 61st minute.
Just eight minutes later, Mané brought Senegal level with a well-taken finish, which forced the contest to end in a stalemate.
Speaking after the match, Mane, who plies his trade for Al Nassr stressed picking a point against DR Congo is good for the team, while setting sights on their final group match against Benin.
”The goal was to win all of our matches, but this is a good point for us. It is good to stay under the radar because there is too much hype around the team right now. Now, we are going to turn our focus toward Benin. It will be another, much more difficult match, but we are well-equipped for these types of encounters.”
Senegal sit on top of Group D, but are tied on four points with the Leopards of Congo after two matches each.
