AFCON 2015: Senegal pips Ghana in added time

Substitute Moussa Sow snatched a stoppage-time winner as
Senegal hit back to defeat Ghana 2-1 in the CAF Africa Cup of
Nations Group C opener.
It was a deserved triumph for the Teranga Lions, who
overcame a sluggish start to dominate the second half and
wasted several chances before securing maximum points.
Andre Ayew scored with a penalty on 14 minutes for four-time
champions Ghana and 2002 runners-up Senegal levelled
through Mame Diouf after 58 minutes.
Several neat touches close to the penalty area created space
for Turkey-based Sow to fire past goalkeeper Razak Braimah
three minutes into additional time. The much-hyped group of
death continues later Monday when top-ranked African team
Algeria tackle resurgent South Africa in the second half of a
double-header.
Both teams missed key strikers with mild malaria ruling out
Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan and a calf injury sidelining
Senegalese Sadio Mane. Experienced midfielder Andre Ayew
took over the Black Stars captaincy and younger brother
Jordan Ayew also made the starting line-up. Senegal left
Newcastle United goal-poacher Papiss Demba Cisse on the
bench, preferring Diouf of Stoke City as the lone frontman.
Concerns that the tournament in Equatorial Guinea would not
draw crowds proved unfounded for the third consecutive day
with Estadio Mongomo packed to its 15,000 capacity in hot,
dry conditions. Ghana had much more early possession and
took the lead when Andre Ayew calmly converted the penalty.
Senegal goalkeeper and captain Bruno Coundoul, who
conceded the spot-kick by pulling down Christian Atsu, dived
to his left as Ayew struck the ball into the middle of the net.
The pace of Ghana was troubling the big Senegal defenders
and Atsu almost doubled the lead midway through the
opening half. Jordan Ayew burst through the defence and
passed for Atsu to beat Coundoul only to see his shot go wide
of the far post.
The frustrations of the Senegalese Teranga Lions — desperate
to avoid a third consecutive first-round exit — showed when
playmaker Dame Ndoye was yellow-carded for a late tackle on
Atsu.
Strangely subdued Senegal finally sprang to life just before the
half-hour as a fierce Kara Mbodj header rattled the crossbar
and rebounded to safety with Braimah helpless. Braimah did
well to foil Diouf soon after, tipping a spectacular close-range
bicycle-kick over at the expense of a corner.
If pace was a Ghanaian weapon, height was an equally potent
attacking threat for the Senegalese and it produced an
equaliser just before the hour mark. Diouf headed a cross
against the woodwork and reacted quickest to nod the
rebound into the net and reward early second-half Senegal
pressure.
The Stoke sharp-shooter should have scored again midway
through the second half, but blazed over from close range
when Ghana failed to clear a corner. With ten minutes left,
Diouf spurned another good chance to break the deadlock as
he pulled a shot wide after breaking through the middle.