Sadio Mane sets aside club speculation to score hat-trick for Senegal in Afcon opener

Sadio Mane's club future may be the focus of much speculation but the Liverpool forward did not let that affect his form after scoring a hat-trick for Senegal in their 3-1 win over Benin to Saturday to get their Africa Cup of Nations title defence started in style.

Mane, who suggested on Friday he might be leaving Liverpool with German champions Bayern Munich expected to be his next destination, netted two penalties in his hat-trick as Senegal made light work of their visitors in the Group L encounter.

The 30-year-old reigning African Footballer of the Year converted a 12th-minute penalty at the national stadium in Diamniadio near Dakar. Mane 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.

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.

Mali thrashed Congo 4-0 in Bamako in a winning debut for new coach Eric Sekou Chelle while Algeria, Gambia and Mauritania were also winners on a busy Saturday programme of qualifiers for the next finals in the Ivory Coast.

Algeria won 2-0 at home against Uganda with a fortuitous goal off the chest of fullback Aissa Mandi that was followed by a mazy individual effort from Youcef Belaili for the second.

El Bilal Toure scored twice