Senegal went into this last-16 tie as strong favourites after progressing through their group unbeaten without conceding a goal - although hitting the net just once themselves, from the penalty spot - and facing a Cape Verde side who qualified as the best of the third-placed teams.

However, they were frustrated by the underdogs’ defensive approach for long periods, even if Mendy wasn’t required to work too hard for his clean sheet on this occasion

Senegal made a fast start, trying to take the game to their opponents as befitting one of the tournament favourites, and weren’t far from taking an early lead when Liverpool’s Sadio Mane hit the post with just 30 seconds on the clock.

Although further chances were slow in coming despite their control, Senegal’s task was made a little easier after 20 minutes when Cape Verde midfielder Patrick Andrade was given his marching orders for a dangerous follow-through in a challenge on Idrissa Gueye, with the referee upgrading the initial yellow card to red after watching the replay on the pitchside monitor.

To say it was a quiet first half for Edouard Mendy would be an understatement, as Cape Verde’s plan to pack their defence left them with little attacking threat, failing to muster a single shot or corner in the opening 45 minutes. That left the Chelsea goalkeeper largely a spectator, simply required to gather up the occasional long clearance.

When Mendy was called into action, from Cape Verde’s first corner 10 minutes into the second half, he nearly got an assist, after comfortably gathering the loose ball and spotting the opportunity to quickly launch a kick over the opposition’s defence for Mane to chase.

The other goalkeeper Vozinha raced out of his box to head clear, but was beaten to it by Mane, resulting in a sickening collision. Both players were down for some time and the keeper was clearly unable to continue as he swayed to his feet. A substitute was being prepared, but the decision was then made for them as, following another video review, the referee showed the keeper a red card, reducing Cape Verde to nine men for the last half-an-hour.

That proved to be the game-changing moment, as Senegal instantly piled on the pressure while Cape Verde attempted to regroup and took the lead just two minutes later. At the second of two corners which followed the free-kick awarded for that foul, the ball found it’s way to Mane on the left side of the box and the Liverpool forward curled a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was to be Mane’s last involvement, though, as during a lengthy delay while the referee checked the video for a possible infringement in the build-up to his goal, which came to nothing, the Senegal captain went to ground and signalled he would be unable to continue due to the affects of his head injury.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Cape Verde tried to fight back, but Mendy remained untroubled throughout until Senegal got their second goal in injury time, Mane’s replacement Bamba Dieng finishing off a quick counter to make their progress secure.

Senegal’s attempt to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time now continues into the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of tomorrow’s match between Mali and Equitorial Guinea on Sunday.