Senegal booked the final place in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament with early and late goals against Oman iat the City of Coventry Stadium.
Senegal booked the final place in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
Senegal had the ideal start by taking the lead in only the second minute. A free-kick from wide on the right by the corner flag was powerfully headed home from eight yards by Ibrahima Balde.
Watched by Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce and Omani keeper Ali Al-Habsi from Premier League Wigan among a crowd of 11,611, the powerful Senegalese team could have extended their advantage when Sadio Mane rifled a shot inches wide from 25 yards.
Moussa Konate tested Omani keeper Omer Al Abri with a right-footed strike from 16 yards and Ibrahima Seck’s 22 yard shot was deflected wide as Senegal maintained their impressive start.
Paul Le Guen’s Oman had chances as well with skipper Hussain Al Hadhri sending a 25-yard free-kick straight at the keeper and a shot from a similar distance from Mohamed Al Maashari landing on the roof of the net.
Senegal’s Kalidou Yero had the first goalscoring opportunity of the second half when his close-range shot was saved at his near post by Al Abri and the forward could have doubled his side’s advantage when he headed over from six yards just after the hour-mark.
Oman began to look more dangerous from an attacking point of view with their most influential player, Al Hadhri trying his luck from 22 yards and the team then had two great chances to equalise.
Waleed Al Saadi’s right-wing cross was nearly turned into his own goal by Kara Mbodji and then Al Hadhri’s cross from the other wing was knocked across the goalline by defender Mohammed Al Balushi.
But they were left to rue those missed opportunities when Senegal wrapped up victory in the 88th minute through Abdoulaye Sane’s fierce drive from just inside the area to seal their place in tomorrow’s draw at Wembley.
