Senegal go top after South Africa draw

Kara Mbodj grabbed the equaliser as Senegal moved to the top of Group C with a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the African Cup of Nations.

The Genk defensive midfielder rose to power home a thumping header on the hour after Oupa Manyisa had given Bafana Bafana a deserved lead with a low shot just after the interval. It followed a woeful first period in which neither side carved out a chance of real note.

Indeed, things could only get better following the restart and the game improved dramatically with the early goal for 'Shakes' Mashaba's men resulting in a much more open, attack-minded 45 minutes of action.

Southampton's Sadio Mane had a goal chalked off but the Lions of Teranaga grew stronger following their equaliser and could have won it with Mame Biram Diouf, Dame N'Doye and Mbodj all going close late on.

The result means it is still all to play for in the final round of Group C matches with all four sides still in with a chance of making the knockout stage.

PRE-MATCH - SOW STARTS, KEEPER DROPPED: Five changes for Senegal, most notably their match winner against Ghana, Moussa Sow earns a start in attack while Southampton's Sadio Mane is also involved from the off. As for South Africa they make two changes. Jackson Mabokgwane replaces Darren Keet between the sticks after he endured a difficult time in Bafana Bafana's opening match. Erick Mathoho returns from suspension to assume a role in the heart of the defence in place of the injured Rivaldo Coetzee.

1' - SOUTH AFRICA CHANCE! - An early attempt from Sibusiso Vilakazi flashes over the bar after a cross from the right drops his way courtesy of a defensive slip.

30' - INJURY BLOW. South Africa defender Thulani Hlatshwayo is forced off after failing to recover from a head injury. He signalled to the bench he had double vision after the aerial clash with Pape Diop and is replaced by Ayanda Gcaba.

43' - SOUTH AFRICA CHANCE! - Thabo Matlaba wriggles free on the left of the area but slams a shot wide of the near post.

45' - SENEGAL CHANCE! - Cheikh M'Bengue surges into the area for Senegal and wins the corner. From the resulting kick Diop powers a free header at the far post wide. Sloppy defending there almost cost Bafana Bafana.

47' - GOAL! SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 SENEGAL. Oupa Manyisa gets Bafana Bafana off to a flyer as he shows great composure to slot a low right-wing cross into the far corner from 10 yards out.

57' - SENEGAL CHANCE! - GOOOAAA- NO! It's offside. Southampton's Sadio Mane tucks home after the keeper fumbled a header back across goal - but the flag is correctly up. Let off for Bafana Bafana.

60' - GOAL! SOUTH AFRICA 1-1 SENEGAL. Senegal level it up. Diop floats a right-wing free kick to the far post where Kara Mbodj rises well to loop a powerful header over the keeper. Mabokgwane's positioning off his line was questionable there.

69' - SENEGAL CHANCE! Diouf gets on the end of a superb cross from the right by Gassama, but powers his header a couple of yards wide of target. The frustrated expression on the striker's face tells the tale. That was a good opportunity.

81' - GREAT SAVE! N'Doye conjures up some space 25 yards out and lets rip with a 25-yard drive that Mabokgwane tips wide.

89' - BIG CHANCE! Senegal should have nicked it. Diop's right-wing corner is met by Mbodj who guides his header wide of the far post.

KEY STATSThe Lions of Teranga have gone 13 games without a clean sheet at this tournament, dating back to a shut-out against Zimbabwe in 2006.

Senegal are unbeaten in their last six games against South Africa (W2 D4).

Group C is up for grabs. If South Africa had held on Group C would have gone into the final round of matches with all four sides on three points. As it stands, Bafana Bafana still have it all to do with just one point so far, but refreshingly there will be no dead rubber in this pool and no-one can be ruled out which means one of the big guns could yet go home.

Oupa Manyisa (South Africa): Marked a lively display with a cool finish. Caused problems throughout.

South Africa: Mabokgwane 6, Hlatshwayo 6, Mathoho 7, Ngcongca 7, Matlaba 7, Furman 6, Vilakazi 7, Manyisa 7, Jali 7, Phala 7, Rantie 7. Subs: Phumgwayo 6, Parker 6, Letsholonyane 6.

Senegal: Coundoul 6, Ludovic Sane 6, M'Bengue 7, Mbodj 7, Gassama 7, Diop 6, N'Diaye 6, Gueye 6, Diouf 5, Mane 5, Sow 5. Subs: N'Doye 6, Kouyate n/a, Saivet n/a.