With the football world still reeling from the tragic events at the Cameroon vs Comoros game, where eight supporters lost their lives, AFCON 2021 went on with two more last-16 ties on Tuesday.

Underdogs have enjoyed plenty of success at the tournament thus far, but there were to be no shocks this time around.

Here is how the two ties played out…

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Sadio Mane scored as Senegal made hard work of a 2-0 win over Cape Verde, who had two players sent off.

The Lions of Teranga made a strong start to proceedings and Mane rattled the post with a fierce effort early on. Soon after, Cape Verde picked up the first of two red cards with Patrick Andrade’s caution for a stamp being upgraded to a dismissal after a VAR review.

Senegal continued to dominate possession but struggled to create opportunities. Their chances were then handed another boost just before the hour when Carpe Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was dismissed – again following a VAR review – for clattering Mane as he raced onto a long ball.

The Liverpool man was seemingly knocked unconscious by the blow but that did not prevent him breaking the deadlock a few minutes later. Mane controlled well in the box before placing his shot in off the bar.

Senegal than made sure of the points with a last-minute strike from Ahmadou Bamba Dieng, which sparked wild celebrations on the touchline.

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Morocco recovered from an early scare to book their place in the quarter finals courtesy of a 2-1 win over Malawi.

The underdogs, ranked 129th in the world, got off to the perfect start when Gabadinho Mhango put them 1-0 up inside seven minutes. It was one of the goals of the tournament too with Mhango rifling home from midway inside the opposition half.

Malawi nearly managed to see out the half, only for Youssef En-Nesyri to equalise in stoppage time. His goal was nowhere near as spectacular with the Sevilla man rising at the back post to nod in Selim Amallah’s cross.

Morocco peppered Malawi’s goal after the break and eventually found a winner through star man Achraf Hakimi, who bent an unstoppable free kick into the top corner 20 minutes from time.

Senegal and Morocco join Gambia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Tunisia in the last eight. The final two spots will be filled by either Ivory Coast or Egypt and Mali or Equatorial Guinea.

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