Senegal has started the African cup of nation’s finals in Gabon on the right footing after registering a 2-0 victory over Tunisia. The victory was the first in the 31st edition of the continental showdown after the first three games had ended in draws.
Liverpool’s forward Sadio Mane opened the scoring, converting from a spot kick in the 10th minute after cheikhou Kouyate had been hacked down. Kara Mbodji then doubled Senegal’s lead before half-time. Senegal, the early favorites to win the tournament, face Zimbabwe in their next game on Thursday.
In an earlier Group B match minnows Zimbabwe held favorites Algeria to a 2-2 draw. Confederation of African Football’s best player and Leicester city midfielder Riyad Mahrez scored twice the Desert Foxes to salvage a point.
Mahrez opened the scoring in the 12th minute, before the Warriors drew level just five minutes later through Kudakwashe Mahachi.
Nyasha Mushekwi scored a penalty for Zimbabwe to take a 2-1 lead. Zimbabwe seem on course to register the surprise minute but they fell apart when Mahrez scored an equalizer in the 82nd minute.
In day three of the competition defending champion Ivory Coast will start their title defense against Togo, while DR Congo will take on Morocco in group C.