Liverpool's Sadio Mane WILL return for Senegal's AFCON quarter-final clash with Equatorial Guinea after recovering from the nasty head injury he sustained in their last-16 win over Cape Verde

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Sadio Mane has been declared fit for Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Equatorial Guinea in Yaounde on Sunday, his country's football federation said, days after suffering a head knock that saw him taken to hospital.

After scoring the opening goal, the Liverpool star clashed heads with the opposing goalkeeper as Senegal beat the Cape Verde Islands in Tuesday's last-16 clash in Bafoussam and was forced to leave the field, looking groggy and with swelling on the side of his face.

He underwent examinations that showed no trace of concussion, said Senegal's doctor Abdourahmane Fédior.

 Senegal's Sadio Mane suffered a nasty collision with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (left)

'All the symptoms he had on the pitch are gone. His condition requires fairly close monitoring. Everything is normal on the X-ray,' the doctor said in a statement released by the Senegalese federation.

Mane, The reigning African Footballer of the Year, posted a picture of himself on social media with the caption 'recovering'.

He is a major part of Senegal´s hopes of winning their first continental championship in Cameroon. They were among the pre-tournament favourites but although they have reached the last eight, they have so far looked far from convincing.

Both Senegal and AFCON came under huge scrutiny for allowing Mane to play on with his injury.   

Mane was in good spirits with Vozinha in hospital and was discharged later on Tuesday night

Headway deputy chief executive Luke Griggs said: 'The image of the player collapsing on the ground and having to be helped from the pitch after scoring his goal should tell you everything you need to know about the impact and the effect it had had on his brain.

'Yet again, the desire to win is seen as being worth serious risks to players' health. It is simply shocking that this continues to happen.

'This is now a real test of leadership for the Confederation of African Football and world governing body FIFA - particularly if Senegal declare Mane fit for Sunday's quarter-final.'