Senegal started 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 finish to a sequence of shock outcomes on the event within the Ivory Coast.
After a shock-filled Sunday the place the minnows had the higher hand over heavyweight opponents, Senegal restored religion within the type ebook as Pape Gueye scored early and Camara added two extra to make sure victory within the opening Group C encounter.
Gueye put Senegal forward within the fourth minute on the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, whereas 20-year-old Camara, voted Younger African Participant of the 12 months in 2023, underlined his promise with a tremendous end seven minutes after the break and a chic second into the highest nook 4 minutes from time.
Gambia had been diminished to 10 when Ebou Adams was despatched off for a unnecessary stamp on Camara in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half, leaving Gambia on the again foot for the second interval.
However they had been already up in opposition to it having conceded early as Gueye swept the ball dwelling after being teed up by Sadio Mane. Gambia captain Omar Colley’s poor clearance discovered Mane unmarked on the left and he laid the ball again for the oncoming Gueye to attain.
Adams caught Camara on his heel lengthy after the ball had gone and initially obtained a warning. However after a VAR verify it was modified to purple, leaving the Cardiff Metropolis defender banned for the subsequent two matches.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara scores a magnificence to place his aspect 3-0 up of their Africa Cup of Nations opener in opposition to Gambia
Two passes from deep in defence led to Senegal doubling the rating with some simplicity, as captain Kalidou Koulibaly discovered Ismaila Sarr in midfield and he, in flip, threaded a defence-splitting cross for Camara to run onto and rating.
Iliman Ndiayes dribbling on the best of the assault arrange the third objective with Ndiaye cleverly working his means throughout the penalty field earlier than passing for Camara to attain.
Gambia, who reached the quarter-finals of the final Cup of Nations two years in the past in a shock efficiency, supplied little in assault save for an early shot from Musa Barrow that Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy punched away to security.
Cameroon held by 10-player Guinea as Man Utd’s Onana misses opener
Highlights of the Africa Cup of Nations conflict between Cameroon and Guinea
Cameroon had been held to a irritating 1-1 draw by resolute 10-player Guinea of their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Yamoussoukro.
Cameroon – lacking injured captain Vincent Aboubakar – began with Fabrice Ondoa in objective after unhealthy climate induced journey issues for his cousin Andre Onana. The Manchester United goalkeeper had taken a non-public jet to Abidjan in Ivory Coast after United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
From there the participant had reported difficulties getting one other flight to Yamoussoukro, forcing him to make the journey by street as an alternative. He was not named within the match squad.
Cameroon head coach Rigobert Music defended his determination to not embody Onana within the squad, saying: “It’s logical. He arrived at 4am. How would you like him to play? He’s a part of the group.”
Mohamed Bayo had given Guinea, with out Stuttgart star striker Serhou Guirassy, a shock early lead earlier than captain Francois Kamano was despatched off in first-half stoppage time following a VAR assessment for standing on Frank Magri’s foot.
Magri’s header levelled issues up six minutes into the second half, however Cameroon, who’re five-time African champions, couldn’t discover a winner previous the well-organised Guinea defence.