Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3-0 victory over 10-player Gambia helped by Lamine Camara’s double in Group C on Monday, bringing an end to a sequence of surprise results at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.
After a shock-filled Sunday where the minnows had the upper hand over heavyweight opponents, Senegal restored faith in the form book as Pape Gueye scored early and Camara added two more to ensure victory in the opening Group C encounter.
Gueye put Senegal ahead in the fourth minute at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, while 20-year-old Camara, voted Young African Player of the Year in 2023, underlined his promise with a fine finish seven minutes after the break and a sublime second into the top corner four minutes from time.
Gambia were reduced to 10 when Ebou Adams was sent off for a needless stamp on Camara in stoppage time at the end of the first half, leaving Gambia on the back foot for the second period.
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But they were already up against it having conceded early as Gueye swept the ball home after being teed up by Sadio Mane. Gambia captain Omar Colley’s poor clearance found Mane unmarked on the left and he laid the ball back for the oncoming Gueye to score.
Adams caught Camara on his heel long after the ball had gone and initially received a caution. But after a VAR check it was changed to red, leaving the Cardiff City defender banned for the next two matches.
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Senegal’s Lamine Camara scores a beauty to put his side 3-0 up in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Gambia
Two passes from deep in defence led to Senegal doubling the score with some simplicity, as captain Kalidou Koulibaly found Ismaila Sarr in midfield and he, in turn, threaded a defence-splitting pass for Camara to run onto and score.
Iliman Ndiayes dribbling on the right of the attack set up the third goal with Ndiaye cleverly working his way across the penalty box before passing for Camara to score.
Gambia, who reached the quarter-finals of the last Cup of Nations two years ago in a surprise performance, offered little in attack save for an early shot from Musa Barrow that Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy punched away to safety.
Cameroon held by 10-player Guinea as Man Utd’s Onana misses opener
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Highlights of the Africa Cup of Nations clash between Cameroon and Guinea
Cameroon were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by resolute 10-player Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Yamoussoukro.
Cameroon – missing injured captain Vincent Aboubakar – started with Fabrice Ondoa in goal after bad weather caused travel problems for his cousin Andre Onana. The Manchester United goalkeeper had taken a private jet to Abidjan in Ivory Coast after United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
From there the player had reported difficulties getting another flight to Yamoussoukro, forcing him to make the journey by road instead. He was not named in the match squad.
Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song defended his decision not to include Onana in the squad, saying: “It’s logical. He arrived at 4am. How do you want him to play? He’s part of the group.”
Mohamed Bayo had given Guinea, without Stuttgart star striker Serhou Guirassy, a shock early lead before captain Francois Kamano was sent off in first-half stoppage time following a VAR review for standing on Frank Magri’s foot.
Magri’s header levelled things up six minutes into the second half, but Cameroon, who are five-time African champions, could not find a winner past the well-organised Guinea defence.
Mabululu earns Angola opening draw with Algeria
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Highlights of Algeria’s opening game at AFCON as they faced Angola
Algeria endured more Africa Cup of Nations frustration as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Angola in their opening match in Bouake.
Baghdad Bounedjah gave the Algerians the lead, but a second-half equaliser from Mabululu, who converted the rebound after his penalty hit the bar, salvaged a point for Angola in the Group D clash.
Algeria are looking to avoid a similar fate to 2022 when they entered as defending champions but crashed out in the group stages after failing to win a game.