Sadio Mané-inspired Senegal and Mali set up Africa Cup quarterfinal

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Sadio Mané led Senegal to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 3-1 win over Sudan in Tangier on Saturday.

The 2019 and 2022 African footballer of the year chased and harried, and set up goals and chances for teammates, leading by example in the absence of suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly.

Mané set up midfielder Pape Gueye’s first goal of two and substitute Ibrahim Mbaye’s goal to send the Lions of Teranga, the 2021 champions, through to a quarterfinal against Mali, which held on with 10 men on a cold, wet night in Casablanca to beat Tunisia 3-2 in a penalty shootout.

“We needed to dig deep,” said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, whose team faced an early setback when Aamir Abdallah stunned the favorites with Sudan’s opener in the sixth minute.

It was the first and last goal scored by a Sudanese player in the tournament. The Falcons of Jediane defeated Equatorial Guinea in the group stage thanks to an own goal.

The Sudanese, who played all of their qualifying matches away from home as the country contends with a brutal war and humanitarian crisis, were bold against Senegal.

"I am sure the Sudanese people know that we came to this competition and proudly represented them,” Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah said.

Senegal was a challenge too far, though.

Mané set up Gueye to score in the 29th. Gueye also got the second before the break, set up by Jackson. The 19-year-old Mbaye made his entrance as a substitute in the 74th and Mané set up the youngster to wrap it up on a break three minutes later.

El Bilal Touré fired Mali into the quarterfinals with the winning penalty in a 3-2 shootout win over Tunisia after they finished 1-1 with extra time.

Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved two penalties to make up for misses from Yves Bissouma and Dorgeles Nene, as the Eagles set up a showdown with Senegal in Tangier on Jan. 9.

Tunisia was left to rue the miss from Ali Abdi and saves Diarra made to deny Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ben Romdhane. They failed to beat Mali despite having an extra player from the 26th minute, when Woyo Coulibaly was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Hannibal Mejbri.

It was one of many bad tackles. Referee Abongile Tom had already issued four yellow cards before the red.

Coulibaly was the second Mali player sent off in two games after Amadou Haidara against Comoros.

Even after the sending off, neither Mali nor Tunisia managed a shot on target in the first half.

Fans needed to wait till the 88th before Elias Saad crossed for Firas Chaouat to head what most assumed was Tunisia’s winner.

But Tunisia defender Yassine Meriah conceded a penalty in stoppage time, and Lassine Sinayoko duly equalized from the spot to send the game to extra time. It was Mali’s first shot on target.

Sinayoko also scored in the shootout to draw the team level again after Mali captain Yves Bissouma started by blazing his penalty over.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Mali's head coach Tom Saintfiet talks to players before the ectra time during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Mali players celebrate after the penalty shootout og the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf heads the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal's Sadio Mane in action during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Sudan's goalkeeper Monged Elneel Abuzaid saves in front of Senegal's Sadio Mane during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Sudan's Sheddy Ezeldin, left, and Senegal's Sadio Mane fight for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Francisco Alvarez homered twice and rookie Nolan McLean retired his first 15 batters as the New York Mets snapped a three-game skid Friday night with a 10-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants.

Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien each had three of New York's season-high 15 hits after the Mets totaled only three runs in their previous three games. Mark Vientos reached base safely four times, but slugger Juan Soto exited early with right calf tightness.

Soto will have imaging done Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Semien launched his first homer for the Mets and drove in three runs. Bichette opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first.

McLean (1-0) took a perfect game into the sixth before walking Harrison Bader and Patrick Bailey to begin the inning. Jerar Encarnacion flied out to right field, but Willy Adames doubled to right-center to bring home Bader and end McLean’s night.

The right-hander was charged with two runs (one earned). He struck out four. Four relievers combined to finish a five-hitter.

Run-scoring singles by Bichette and Semien off Tyler Mahle (0-2) gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the first.

Semien drilled a two-run homer to center off Mahle in the fourth. One out later, Alvarez also took Mahle deep to center.

Alvarez led off the Mets’ three-run seventh with a homer to left off JT Brubaker, giving the catcher three home runs this season and six career multihomer games.

Soto singled in the first and appeared to slow up while running from first to third on Bichette’s RBI single. He was forced out at home when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play, and Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field for the bottom of the inning.

The 27-year-old Soto has hit safely in all eight games this season. He's in the second season of a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets. He had 43 homers and 105 RBIs last season.

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (1-0) faces Giants RHP Landen Roupp on Saturday night.

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New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and pitcher Luis García (40) celebrate after the team's victory over the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets' Marcus Semien, center, celebrates with Carson Benge, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)