Senegal are in pole position to qualify from Africa Cup of Nations Group C after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with South Africa in Mongomo tonight.

Kara Mbodji cancelled out Oupa Manyisa's second-half opener for Bafana Bafana to take Senegal to four points from two games in the tournament's hardest pool.

Ghana's last-gasp victory over Algeria earlier this evening means that those two nations have three points apiece, while South Africa trail on one point.

The 2010 World Cup hosts had the better chances of a quiet first half, the first of which came within 30 seconds as Sibusiso Vilakazi fired over from Thuso Phala's cross.

Bournemouth striker Tokelo Rantie forced Bouna Coundoul into a smart early save, and South Africa finished the half as strongly as they started it as Thabo Matlaba shot into the side-netting from close range.

Senegal always retained a threat from set pieces, though, as Salif Sane struck just high from a long-range free kick and Stoke City forward Mame Biram Diouf miscued a header wide from a dead-ball delivery.

It took South Africa just two minutes from the restart to take a lead that their play in the opening 45 minutes warranted, as Manyisa arrived at the back post to calmly stroke home Phala's low cross.

Senegal had a perfectly good equaliser chalked off 10 minutes later as the offside flag was incorrectly raised against Sane as he pounced on a Jackson Mabokgwane fumble, but they were level soon after.

Their physical presence finally paid dividends as Mbodj climbed highest to nod home a corner on the hour mark.

Although they spent much of the rest of the game preserving their parity, Senegal briefly threatened to take the lead as Moussa Sow squandered a good chance and Dame N'Doye worked Mabokgwane from distance.

It was their defenders who were the heroes in the final few minutes as Cheikh Mbengue and Lamine Gassama each produced crucial blocks to deny Rantie from inside the area and keep South Africa at bay.