Ismaïla Sarr etched his name onto the scoresheet as Senegal beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The winger started the encounter from the bench at the Ahmadou Ahidjou Stadium in Cameroon.
Famara Diedhiou opened the scoring for the much-fancied Senegal with the best move of the half. The former Bristol City striker converted Sadio Mane’s pass into the bottom corner.
Despite notching the first, Les Lions de la Téranga were unable to break down a tough Equatorial Guinea side who were awarded a penalty, but it was overturned after intervention from VAR.
After the break, Jannick Buyla fired past Édouard Mendy to level the score, which forced Senegal Head Coach Aliou Cissé to call upon his bench. On the 58-minute mark, Sarr replaced Boulaye Dia, with the 23-year-old occupying the right-wing position.
Senegal would eventually retake the lead through Cheikhou Kouyaté’s flick over the goalkeeper to take his team an inch closer to the final four.
Watford’s Sarr would have the final say, as he scored a low-driven shot to secure the victory for his national side – his 10th goal for Senegal.
Senegal will face Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the competition on Wednesday (February 2, KO 7pm GMT).
Elsewhere, Hornets duo Adam Masina and Imrân Louza exited the tournament following Morocco’s tight 2-1 defeat to Egypt.
The Atlas Lions started the game brightly, scoring after just six minutes from the spot through Sofiane Boufal.
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah equalised just after half-time and without another goal, the tie entered extra-time.
Masina, who had started the game, was joined by Louza who came on from the bench just before the 90th minute, but it wasn’t enough to deny Trézéguet, who scored to secure Egypt's place in the next round.
