A late penalty from talisman Sadio Mane sealed a lone goal win for the Teranga Lions of Senegal in their opening TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations encounter against Zimbabwe at the Kouekong Stadium in Baffoussam.

Senegal started the better side with Bouna Sarr and Sadio Mane pulling the strings for Aliou Cisse’s side.

The duo combined for the first real opening of the match inside the first minute. Mane played Sarr through but his effort failed to hit the target.

Keita Balde scuffed his effort wide from a clever Sadio Mane pass. The Liverpool striker turned away from two defenders to set Balde free.

The Teranga Lions dominated possession in the early exchanges through Gana Gueye whose ability to open the play found Fode Ballo on the left channel but his effort was wayward.

The Warriors captain Knowledge Musona tried his luck from distance but his ambitious shot failed to trouble Senegal Seny Dieng. Zimbabwe survived a scare midway through the first half when Sarr latched on to Sadio Mane’s through ball before seeing his shot go agonizingly wide off the post.

Mane missed a good chance to break the deadlock when played through with only the keeper to beat but the former Generation Foot winger fired straight at the brilliant Petros Mhari.

A swift Senegal counter attack freed Mane who played in Gana Gueye but failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy.

Defenders Pape Cisse and Abdou Diallo both headed wide from a set plays as Senegal looked for the breakthrough against the resilient Warriors of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were unlucky not to open the score 15 minutes from time in the highly charged match when Teenage Lingani’s weak effort was saved by Seny Dieng.

Aliou Cisse’s team won a late penalty when substitute Pape Gueye’s effort came off the arm of defender Kelvin Wilbert in stoppage time and star man Sadio Mane fired in the winner from the spot.

The win sends the Teranga Lions to the top of Group B ahead of Guinea’s encounter with Malawi later.