Konate brace gives Senegal victory over Ghana in friendly
Last updated on .From the section Football
Moussa Konate scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute to lead Senegal to a 2-1 triumph over Ghana in a friendly on Saturday.
The Swiss-based striker was on target in the 67th minute, having replaced the recalled Demba Ba who had struck the post after only six minutes of his comeback..
Konate took a long clearance out of defence on his chest and volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area for his first goal.
A quick counter attack then saw Sadio Mane set him up for a second goal nine minutes later.
Richmond Boakye pulled one back for Ghana with eight minutes remaining but Senegal held out for victory in their first game under new coach Aliou Cisse.
Konate brought his impressive club form to the Stade Oceane in the northern city of Le Havre having scored 11 goals in 17 appearances for Sion this season.
It was another defeat for Ghana at the hands of Senegal. The Teranga Lions also beat the Black Stars 2-1 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in January but Ghana went on reach the final while their neighbours went out in the first round.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani converted an early second-half penalty to give Uruguay a 1-0 victory over Morocco in Agadir.
Morocco were playing their first international of the year after having been stripped of the right to host the African Nations Cup at the start of 2015.
Democratic Republic of Congo, who finished third behind Ivory Coast and Ghana at the Nations Cup, lost 2-1 to Iraq in Dubai.
Paul Jose Mpoku equalised from a penalty midway through the opening half. UAE-based footballers, Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf and Humam Tariq scored for Iraq.
Mauritius and Togo drew 1-1 in Bellevue. Andy Sophie put Mauritius ahead during the first half and Jonathan Ayite levelled eight minutes from time.
The result left former France star and Togo coach Didier Six still seeking his first win in charge of the Mauritians after a midweek friendly against Burundi was also drawn.
On Friday, The Gambia marked their return to international football with a 1-0 win over Mauritania in Banjul. Ebou Kanteh with a 23rd minute goal.
And Japan beat Africa's top ranked side Algeria 2-0 in Tokyo.
