Players of Senegal celebrate Sadio Mane's goal during the round of 16 match between Senegal and Uganda at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt, July 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
CAIRO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Senegal reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Uganda 1-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Friday.
Liverpool's star Sadio Mane scored his third goal of the tournament to lead the scoring charts after 15 minutes, and missed a penalty at the hour mark saved by Uganda's goalkeeper and Captain Denis Onyango.
Senegal will play the tournament surprise package Benin on July 10 in Cairo.
Senegal started the game on attacking note and had a corner after few seconds, but Uganda's captain and goalkeeper Denis Onyango had no problem dealing with the ball.
Uganda had to deal with an early blow with defender Hassan Wassawa leaving the field injured after 18 minutes.
However, they could have found the equalizer after 23 minutes when Emanuel Okwi sent a scorcher that found the safe hands of Senegal's goalkeeper Alfred Gomis.
Okwi once again came near to handing Uganda the equalizer from a corner kick that he met with a powerful header, but it missed target narrowly at the half hour mark.
Ismaila Sarr should have doubled Senegal's lead when he was on his way to target with only Onyango to beat, but the Ugandan goalkeeper was too strong to be deceived.
The first half ended with Mane's goal proving to be the difference between both sides.
In the second half, Mane had the chance to double the Teranga Lions lead at the hour mark when he won a penalty after being fouled by Onyango, but the Ugandan goalkeeper made amends or his mistake when he stopped Mane's shot from the spot.
It was the second penalty miss for Mane in the tournament.
