Mané seals Senegal win over Cameroon for Africa Cup progress; Cape Verde also in

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Senegal’s Sadio Mane, left, is challenged by Cameroon’s Enzo Tchato during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr jumps for the ball during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Senegal’s players celebrate after their teammate Ismaila Sarr scored his side’s opening goal during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Cameroon’s starting players pose for a team photo at the beginning of the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Senegal’s Krepin Diatta, left, challenges Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Cameroon’s head coach Rigobert Song watches on as players sing the national anthems before the start of African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Senegal’s Sadio Mane, right, is challenged by Cameroon’s Enzo Tchato during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Cameroon’s Enzo Tchato, left, battle for the ball with Senegal’s Sadio Mane during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Cameroon, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Guinea’s Morgan Guilavogui, centre, is challenged by Gambia’s Omar Colley, right, as his teammate Jacob Mendy watches on during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Guinea and Gambia, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Gambia’s head coach Tom Saintfiet, right, throws the ball to his player Saidy Janko during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Guinea and Gambia, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Guinea’s Ibrahima Diakite, left, is tackled by Gambia’s Alieu Fadera during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Guinea and Gambia, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Guinea’s starting players pose for a team photo at the beginning of the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Guinea and Gambia, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

By CIARÁN FAHEY

YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast (AP) — Sadio Mané scored late to seal a 3-1 win for defending champion Senegal over Cameroon and secure progress to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage on Friday.

Mané was mobbed by teammates after sweeping in the third goal in the fifth minute of injury time, capping an impressive performance after Ismaïla Sarr scored one goal and set up another for the Lions of Teranga.

Senegal moved to the top of Group C with successive wins and was assured of finishing among the top two.

“We’ve played two games. We have seven. It’s important to stay focused,” Senegal coach Aliou Cissé said.

Five-time champion Cameroon’s hopes of progress hinge on beating bottom-of-the-table Gambia and hoping for a favor from Senegal against second-placed Guinea in their final group games on Tuesday.

Guinea is virtually assured of progress after Aguibou Camara secured a 1-0 win over Gambia in Friday’s late game.

Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana started for Cameroon after missing the team’s first game against Guinea because of his late arrival. His first significant contribution was to send an attempted pass out of play.

The game started with, it seemed, most fans still trying to make their way into Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

Senegal’s strong start was rewarded in the 16th minute when Sarr turned to fire inside the right post after Onana failed to clear a corner.

Long lines of fans were still waiting to enter the stadium when the game paused after 30 minutes for a cooling break.

When the game resumed, Senegal remained dominant. Kalidou Koulibaly and his defense snuffed out any opportunities for Cameroon.

Cameroon defender Enzo Tchato need to step in to block a good chance for Mané before the break, and Tolo Nouhou produced a fine tackle after it to stop Abdou Diallo, who was later booked, ruling him out of Senegal’s final group game.

Senegal did not enjoy the same superiority in the second half, so when Habib Diallo slid in to meet Sarr’s low cross in the 71st, it provided relief for the many Senegalese fans who had by now made their way into the stadium.

Jean-Charles Castelletto’s scored Cameroon’s consolation in the 83rd. Mané made sure of the win.

BLUE SHARKS FINISH TOP

Cape Verde became the first country to reach the knockout stage with a comfortable 3-0 win over Mozambique earlier.

Goals from Bebé, Ryan Mendes, and Kevin Pina gave the Blue Sharks their second win from two games to finish on top of Group B above heavyweights Egypt and Ghana with a game to spare.

Cape Verde has six points, followed by Egypt on two, with Ghana and Mozambique both on one point before the final group games on Monday. The top two in each group are assured of progress, while the four best third-place finishers in the six groups also go through.

Cape Verde is playing in the Africa Cup for just the fourth time. The small Atlantic island nation reached the quarterfinals in 2013.

“What we can deliver together is up there with the best of them,” defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes told The Associated Press before the 2-1 win over Ghana.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer