Liverpool Forward Sadio Mane Scores Hat Trick as Senegal Thump Benin 3:1 in Dakar

• Sadio Mane scored three goals in Senegal's 3-1 win over Benin in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday
• Mane twice from the penalty spot and netted another in Dakar to move onto 32 goals in 90 games for his country
• The Liverpool forward's treble moved him beyond Henri Camara's tally of 31 for the champions of Africa

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick as Senegal defeated Benin 3-1 in the first match of their Africa Cup of Nations title defence.

The Teranga Lions kicked off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign against the Squirrels at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Saturday.

Aliou Cisse's side saw off Egypt in the 2022 AFCON final back in January and headed into the match against Benin with the aim of keeping their juggernaut rolling.

And Senegal started the game on a bright note after Mane converted a 12th-minute penalty at the national stadium in Diamniadio near Dakar.

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The reigning African Footballer of the year struck again on 23 minutes, bursting into the box and scoring at the second attempt after goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe blocked his initial shot.

Benin had Sessi D'Almeida sent off early in the second half of the 2023 qualifier and Mane completed his hat-trick on the hour from another penalty before Junior Olaitan reduced arrears.

The treble in Diamniadio took Mane up to 32 goals for Senegal, moving him clear of Henri Camara as the country’s most prolific player of all time.

Next up for Senegal is a trip to Rwanda on Tuesday, and it is hard to imagine any result other than another victory for the Teranga Lions.

Rwanda drew 1-1 away to Mozambique and they share second place behind Senegal and ahead of Benin, who were guided by caretaker Moussa Latoundji after the departure of French coach Michel Dussuyer.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Sadio Mané has confirmed he is on his way out of Liverpool after six years at the Merseyside outfit.

The 30-year-old Senegalese forward is expected to join German giants Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, after the club showed interest in the winger.

In a pre-match press conference ahead of Senegal's AFCON qualifier against Benin, the Liverpool star confirmed his desire to leave the club following demands by Senegalese fans for him move to a new team.