CAIRO, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Senegal secured their spot in the semifinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Benin 1-0 here on Wednesday evening, hoping to hold the title for the first time in their history.
Midfielder Idrissa Gueye scored the winner with a right footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Liverpool star Sadio Mane.
Senegal, who advanced to the quarterfinals at the expense of Uganda, took control of the ball by 63 percent. Benin were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute when defender Olivier Verdon was sent off for a violent foul.
Senegal will compete for the final with the winner of Thursday's confrontation between debutants Madagascar and one-time title holders Tunisia.
Senegal came second in Group C by two wins and a loss to group leader Algeria, who will challenge Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday for a semifinal berth.
The Lions of Teranga were the runners-up in the 2002 AFCON won by Cameroon, while the Squirrels of Benin rarely joined the AFCON.
Benin reached the quarterfinals after edging Morocco, the 1976 AFCON champions, on penalties in the knockout stage.
Later on Wednesday, three-time AFCON champions Nigeria will face one-time title holders South Africa in the second quarterfinal match.
The 32nd AFCON, Africa's biggest football showpiece, kicked off in Egypt on June 21 and will close on July 19.
