AFCON: Senegal face more controversy as Nampalys Mendy plays on despite being stretchered off

There was more concussion controversy involving Senegal at AFCON last night as a clash of heads saw Leicester’s Nampalys Mendy stretched off – before he returned to the pitch to play on.

The midfielder collided with Burkina Faso’s Cyrille Bayala inside three minutes and stayed down on the ground. 

Mendy’s team-mate Abdou Diallo signalled to the Senegal bench to say he needed substituting and the 29-year-old was carried to the sidelines by medical staff.

Senegal’s Nampalys Mendy was stretched off before he returned to the pitch to play on

The midfielder collided with Burkina Faso’s Cyrille Bayala (right) inside three minutes

Yet Mendy was determined to continue and deemed free from concussion after being checked – though the Leicester man was seen holding an ice pack to his head during a stoppage in play in the 32nd minute.

This incident came after Senegal’s handling of Sadio Mane’s head injury was widely criticised. 

Mane was a concussion substitute against Cape Verde then started their next match against Equitorial Guinea five days later – a match Liverpool were not pleased to see their man to play. Mane also started last night.

Sadio Mane (right) suffered a nasty collision with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (left)