AFCON updates: Bayern's Sarr and Eintracht's Barkok also progress to quarterfinals
Two more Bundesliga players are through to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals after their respective countries won round-of-16 fixtures on Tuesday.
FC Bayern München's Bouna Sarr played 90 minutes at fullback for Senegal during the Teragan Lions' 2-0 victory over Cape Verde.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Aymen Bartok only played the final 10 minutes in Morocco's 2-1 win over Malawi.
With Bayern fullback Bouna Sarr often deployed in strange positions, Also Cissé's COVID-stricken Senegalese Lions of Teranga had failed to put together a wholly convincing performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations thus far. Senegal were able to top their group despite only scoring one goal through three group stage fixtures. The West Africans were able to double this tally in Tuesday's elimination round matchup against Cape Verde, albeit against a side that did see two players sent off.
FC Bayern München's Bouna Sarr played 90 minutes at fullback for Senegal during the Teragan Lions' 2-0 victory over Cape Verde.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Aymen Bartok only played the final 10 minutes in Morocco's 2-1 win over Malawi.
Bayern's Sarr began the fixture in his normal right fullback position. Team star Sadio Mané of Liverpool remained, as he had in the previous match, in a left wing-role. Alanyaspor center-forward Famara Diehiou and Villareal's Boulaye Dia completed a three-pronged attack. Apart from an early strike of the post from Mané, however, even third fourth unique attacking arrangement from Cissé failed to produce a consistently compelling attack during the first 45 minutes.
The Lions remained rather lethargic against the Cape Verdean Blue Sharks, this despite having the man advantage after Patrick Andrade was sent off on a straight red in the 21st minute. It ultimately took a second sending off twelve minutes after the restart for Senegal to take control of the match. Cape Verdean keeper Vozinha was sent off after colliding with Mané on an aerial duel. The decision seemed a mite harsh, possibly influenced by the fact that the Liverpool attacker incurred a gash and needed extensive treatment.
After about a six-minute injury timeout, Mané was able to score the opening goal. Bayern's Sarr delivered the 63rd minute corner, but did not record an assist as the ball was flicked on for Sané. Senegal's Bamba Dieng would add a second goal in stoppage time. Sarr finished with well over 70 touches on a very active day for him on the right flank. The Bayern man's passing was very sharp on the day, though he did appear to lose more direct duels than he won.
In other Bundesliga-related AFCON news, Aymen Barkok and the Moroccan "Lions of the Atlas" are also headed to the quarterfinals after a 2-1 comeback victory over the "Flames" of Malawi. Though the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker's involvement in ten minutes of relief was obviously negligible, former Borussia Dortmund fullback Achraf Hakimi was once again the star of the show. The former BVB standout scored in his second consecutive tournament match, this time netting the winner twenty minutes from time.