True to prediction, a dominant Lions of Senegal on Wednesday evening became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt after overcoming hard-fighting Squirrels of Benin by an unreplied goal.

The less fancied Beninoise had kept their fellow West Africans at bay for 69 minutes before a magical display by Idrissa Gueye settled scores in favour of the favourites.

Charging towards the box, he had picked out Sadio Mane, who played a pass back to the Everton midfielder, who continued his run into the box and blasted the ball into the net.

Mane himself scored two goals but both were disallowed for offside.

Benin finished the match with ten men after Olivier Verdon saw red for a nasty fould on the edge of the box.