Mendy & Daka Taste Late Success In AFCON Qualifiers
- A late penalty confirms a 1-0 win for Papy Mendy and Senegal in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualification
- Patson Daka part of the Zambia side that beat Comoros 2-1 with a late goal in the same competition
- Luke Thomas helps England Under-21s edge towards UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
- Sammy Braybrooke, Ben Nelson and Kian Pennant start for England Under-18s in a 3-2 win over Austria Under-18s
- Chris Popov scores for Wales Under-18s as they claim a dramatic 4-2 win over Croatia Under-18s
In Diamniadio, Mendy was named in the starting XI for continental champions Senegal, who left it late to beat Rwanda 1-0 in their second game of the group phase. The success was a tense one and confirmed only thanks to a 98th-minute penalty from Liverpool's Sadio Mané.
Having won their opener against over Benin earlier this week, Mendy played 71 minutes at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade, with the result ensuring the Lions of Teranga stay top of Group L.
Daka was also in CAF Africa Cup of Nations action, playing the full match for hosts Zambia as they came from behind to win 2-1 against Comoros.
The visitors took the lead in Lusaka when El Fardou Ben Nabouhane hit the target, though Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu drew the Copper Bullets level on the stroke of half-time.
A tight second period was brought to a winning close for the home side in the 88th minute when Kings Kangwa found the net to decide the Group H contest and hand Zambia their first points of qualification, having lost to Ivory Coast in their first match despite Daka scoring.
Luke Thomas came off the bench to help move England Under-21s closer to qualification for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The City full-back replaced Ben Johnson in the 83rd minute as the Young Lions defeated Albania Under-21s 3-0 in Chesterfield.
Two goals from Folarin Balogun and a Curtis Jones strike ensure the side remain top of Group G, three points ahead of Czech Republic with a game in hand, ahead of playing Kosovo Under-21s on Friday (7pm kick-off).
Sammy Braybrooke was captain for England Under-18s as he lined up alongside City team-mates Ben Nelson and Kian Pennant in Croatia, where Ryan Garry's side are taking part in a four-nation tournament.
In searing Zagreb heat, Austria took the lead in the first half, with England twice responding and taking the advantage courtesy of George Hall and Divin Mubama strikes either side of the interval. Austria equalised but in the closing stages Sheffield United's Oliver Arblaster scored the decisive goal in England's eventual 3-2 win.
Braybrooke and Nelson both played the full 90 in the first of three scheduled games in Croatia, with Pennant featuring for 62 minutes before being replaced by Sonny Perkins of West Ham United.
In the same tournament, Chris Popov scored the crucial third goal as Wales Under-18s came from two goals behind to beat Croatia Under-18s by a 4-2 scoreline.
After facing the early deficit, Swansea City forward Cameron Congreve scored twice to take the game into the break level, Popov scoring with 15 minutes to go before Morgan Wigley netted a fourth to seal the victory.
Intriguingly, Wales Under-18s next face England Under-18s on Friday (3pm kick-off) in both sides' second game of the tournament.
Çağlar Söyüncü was an unused substitute for Turkey as his nation claimed an emphatic 6-0 win away to Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League. The side next travel to play Luxembourg on Saturday (7:45pm kick-off).
All times BST.