Sadio Mane: Why Senegal Star Wasn’t Given Red Card Before Suffering AFCON 2023 Exit

• Sadio Mane was only booked for a high challenge on Ivory Coast's Ibrahim Sangare
• Ivory Coast then mounted an impressive turnaround to eliminate the defending champions
• We take a look at what the law says in such situations and whether it was applied correctly

Sadio Mane luckily escaped a direct sending-off after lunging onto Ibrahim Sangare during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash between Senegal and Ivory Coast.

In the grand scheme of things, the decision was inconsequential as the host nation eliminated the defending champions, beating them on post-match penalties to book their place in the last eight.

However, despite the Elephants pulling off the surprise, questions will still arise about how the centre referee, Pierre Atcho, and the VAR made a couple of decisions at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

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For a tournament that has been hailed thus far for impeccable refereeing and spot-on decisions, the blockbuster clash in Yamoussoukro threatened to derail the efforts made by CAF this year.

Serious foul play rules explained

On Mane's incident, IFAB Laws of the Game state that

"A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play."

The clause further states that if an opponent endangers the safety of another by using one or both legs, then he/she is liable for serious foul play.

"Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play."

Did Mane deserve a red card vs Ivory Coast?

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There are variations of rules of a player being pardoned if he fails to connect with the opponent's body, but in Mane's case, replays show that the Al-Nassr star planted his foot on Sangare's leg, studs up. Luckily, the Nottingham Forest midfielder suffered no damaging effect and carried on with the game.

Our verdict

The law is clear; Mane ought to have been sent off.

The other dubious call was corrected by the VAR after the referee had declined to award the hosts a penalty after Edouard Mendy brought down Nicolas Pepe. The Gabonese official thought the former Arsenal winger had dived, but upon reviewing it on the pitch-side monitor, awarded a penalty and rightly booked Mendy.

Cisse breaks silence on AFCON exit

Sports Brief has also reported that Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse expressed disappointment after their AFCON elimination.

The 2021 title-winning coach insisted that the team was keen on proceeding to the quarter-finals. Cisse emphasised that he was proud of his players despite the result.