Having missed the opening two group games following a positive Covid test, Mendy returned against Malawi and although the much-fancied Senegalese did not sparkle, a 0-0 draw was enough for top spot in their group.Mendy might have needed to save a penalty to secure that point had the referee not reviewed a second-half decision on the advice of VAR, but the freshly crowned FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year was largely untroubled after the break.He survived a Malawi shot that flew over his bar early in the game and then a free-kick on half-an-hour that was deflected past his post.He then had to punch a cross over his bar after a rapid Malawi attack with Senegal second-best in the first half.

They improved and shortly after half-time, Mendy’s opposite number, Charles Thom, was finally called into serious action when he tipped over a header by Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo after Kalidou Koulibaly had flicked on a free-kick.PSG’s Abdou Diallo then headed over the Malawi bar and his club team-mate Idrissa Gueye forced a save with a free-kick from out wide.With quarter-of-an-hour remaining, the ref pointed to the penalty spot for a foul by Malawi’s Yamikani Chester but changed his mind after viewing it on the screen and it was Senegal who applied the late pressure, without breaking through.Senegal will now play one of the third-place sides next Tuesday.

Ghana and Baba Rahman however are going home after a shock 3-2 defeat against Comoros who are playing their first tournament. Indeed their goals were the first they have scored at this Africa Cup of Nations and they went 2-0 up against a Ghana side who were reduced to 10 men when 1-0 down, when Andre Ayew was sent-off after a VAR review on his challenge on the goalkeeper.The four-times winners pulled the score back to 2-2 but were sunk by another Comoros goal with five minutes left on the clock. Ghana finish bottom of their group.