Mane the fulcrum in Senegal’s hopes
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse told star man Sadio Mane to step up at the World Cup, even though the Liverpool forward got on the scoresheet in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Japan on Sunday.
Substitute Keisuke Honda equalised with 12min left as Japan twice pegged back Senegal in a captivating stalemate at Yekaterinburg Arena that leaves Group H wide open.
All eyes will now be on the group match between Poland and Colombia – defeat for either side will be the end of their tournament in Russia.
As it stands, Japan and Senegal have four points after two games.
Mane was the beneficiary of poor defending on 11min when goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a mess of a shot, punching the ball into the lurking Liverpool star. It bounced back off his leg for his first World Cup goal.
But Japan were successful in keeping the 26-year-old moreor-less quiet after that and Cisse admitted the Asian side deserved to win, even if they were twice behind.
“Of course we have regrets but we did not see a great Senegal team tonight compared to the previous match against Poland (a 2-1 victory),” Cisse said, adding that “frankly, we were not very good”.
Cisse, Senegal skipper in the country’s run to the quarterfinals in 2002, hopes Mane can be the difference, on what promises to be a nerve-wracking final round of matches on Thursday.
“Sadio Mane is a player with a lot of expectations and he is one of the players under the spotlight. He can do better, but today he was better than against Poland and he needs to do better against Colombia.”
Mane, fresh off the back of an exciting club season that took Liverpool to the Champions League final, felt the Africans deserved to win.
“Honestly we are all disappointed, there was a way to win and we did not do it,” said Mane, who was only a sporadic danger down Senegal’s left.
A win for either side would have probably put them in the knockout rounds. –