AFCON 2023: Senegal roar to victory: Cameroon and Algeria held

Reigning champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal opened their title defense campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over The Gambia at Yamoussoukro’s Stade Charles Konan Banny, thanks to a Pape Gueye early strike that was accompanied by a Lamine Camara second half brace.

The Scorpions, who were quarter-finalists in the last edition were outclassed by the reigning champions who dismantled them with the early goal by Gueye following a Sadio Mane assist.

The Gambia tried re-grouping and fighting their way back into the match but were met by a resolute and disciplined Senegalese defense.

Things got worse for the scorpions when Ebrima Adams was sent off for an early shower after a vicious tackle on the young Lamine Camara just before the break.

Returning from recess, the reigning champions continued their dominance, giving the Scorpions zero chances of a comeback, who were a man down.

A brace by the young sensation, Camara which included a peach of a strike from the edge of the box that found its way into the top corner saw the Lions of Teranga roar into a 3-0 victory to go top of Group C and send a clear message of intent to their opponents.

Up next for the defending champions is a mouth-watering tie against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Friday, 19 January.

Guinea and Cameroon played out a 1-1 draw in a tensed encounter at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the second Group C game.

Guinea took an early lead through Mohamed Bayo. He was given all the space and time in the world and gleefully pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty box beyond the reach of Fabrice Ondoa to put Guinea in the lead against the five times champions, Cameroon.

Guinea captain, Francois Kamano was showed the marching orders after penalizing Cameroonian midfielder, Olivier Ntcham inside the added on time in the first half.

The situation was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee and an initial yellow card was changed to red card by Referee Mutaz Ibrahim.

Cameroon took advantage of the numerical disadvantage of the Guineans in the second half.

The Indomitable Lions got the equalizer six minutes into the second half following Frank Magri’s show of superb aerial ability to pounce onto a free kick to render the game 1-1.

Angolan striker, Cristovao Paciencia rescued a vital point for his side after converting from the spot to hold Algeria to a 1-1 stalemate at Bouake’s Stade De La Paix in their Group C opener against the former champions.

The 2019 champions came into the tie as favourites on paper and unsurprisingly pinned their opponents into their own half from the opening whistle.

Fares Chaibi was the first to ask questions of Adilson Cipriano in as early as the 6th minute after doing well to connect with a Youcef Belaili cross for his volleyed effort to go narrowly wide.

Belaili, who was a constant threat to the Angolan defense almost opened the scoring charts in the eighth minute after doing well to cut in from the left to unleash a powerful strike that was fisted away by Cipriano.

The Desert Foxes were eventually rewarded for their relentless attacks after a lobbed ball from the back went over Kialonda Gaspar for 2019 title hero, Baghdad Bounedjah to comfortably slot it into the bottom left corner.

Interestingly Bounedjah scored Algeria’s opening goal in their first match of the 2019 edition against Kenya, where they went on to win the title Egypt.

Coming back from the recess, Angola’s game plan was to get balls into the danger area – a tactic that paid dividends in the 68th minute when substitute, Cristovao Paciencia converted from the spot kick after he was fouled in the box by Nabil Bentaleb.

The evenly contested encounter concluded with both sides sharing the spoils in front of a highly vocal Stade De La Paix crowd.

Next for Algeria will be a clash against Burkina Faso on Saturday at 14h00, while Angola face Mauritania in the 20h00 Kick Off.