MOUSSA Djenepo is set to return to Saints after his Africa Cup of Nation’s conquest with Mali came to a bitter penalty-shootout end versus Equatorial Guinea.

The 23-year-old winger was named on the bench as he returned from a one-match suspension picked up after yellow cards in each of his first two starts.

He was introduced from the bench after 70 minutes with the scoreline still 0-0 – which it remained after extra-time, forcing spot-kicks.

Djenepo, who had looked lively during regulation and extra-time, took his penalty second and scored. However, Central African minnows Equatorial Guinea edged the shootout 6-5.

They will go on to face former Saint Sadio Mane and his Senegal side in the quarter-final on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Djenepo will return to Staplewood Campus and could be available to Ralph Hasenhuttl for the FA Cup clash with Championship Coventry City next weekend.

The result is a shock after Mali picked up two wins and a draw in their group stage matches, conceding just once during the 1-1 draw with The Gambia the entire tournament.

Djenepo received his 22nd cap for his country. He scored in his most recent appearance before AFCON – a 3-0 World Cup qualifying contest versus Rwanda.

Mali have a 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying playoff double-header versus Tunisia in March, who they just beat 1-0 in their opening AFCON match.