Senegal launch AFCON defence with 3-0 win over Gambia

Senegal launch AFCON defence with 3-0 win over Gambia

Two goals from Lamine Camara following an early strike from Pape Gueye enabled Senegal to avoid the setbacks suffered by fellow contenders Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon, and begin their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title defence with a victory.

After Egypt and Nigeria were held to unexpected draws on Sunday, Cameroon failed to beat a Guinea side reduced to 10 men late in the first half on Monday at Yamoussoukro in the Cote d’Ivoire.

Trailing 1-0 at the time they leveled but could not find a winner.

Senegal won 3-0 in Yamoussoukro against a Gambia side reduced to 10 players shortly before halftime.

Marseille midfielder Gueye put the 2021 champions ahead four minutes in when Sadio Mane laid the ball off on the edge of the box and the Marseille midfielder smashed it first time into the bottom corner.

After Ebou Adams was shown a red card for fouling Camara eight minutes into first-half stoppage-time Senegal took full advantage.

Ismaila Sarr soon played Camara through and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner to extend their lead.

Camara capped off the afternoon in the 86th minute when Iliman Ndiaye weaved past the Gambia defence to find the Metz midfielder, who bent the ball first time into the top right-hand corner from distance to seal victory.

“It’s too early to speak about the trophy. It’s important to take it game by game,” Mane said.

Cameroon went behind to Guinea when Mohamed Bayo took advantage of confused defending to score early before Guinea captain Francois Kaman was dismissed in first-half added-time, for treading on the ankle of Frank Magri.

Magri recovered to equalise with a fine back-post header six minutes into the second after playing for Manchester United on Sunday, only to be further delayed travelling from the Cote d’Ivoire capital Abidjan.

Algeria, who as defending champions crashed out of the last iteration of AFCON in the group stage after failing to win a game, started their 2024 campaign with a 1-1 draw against world No.117 Angola.

Baghdad Bounedjah gave Algeria the lead midway through the first half, before Mabululu levelled for Angola from the penalty spot on 68 minutes.