AFCON 2023: Senegal off to a flier as Algeria, Cameroon held

• Senegal beat Gambia 3-0 in their opening game
• Youngster Lamine Camara scored twice
• Algeria and Cameroon were held to draws

AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) Defending champions Senegal kicked off the defense of their campaign with a brilliantly executed 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia in Yamoussoukro.

Youngster Lamine Camara, the best player at the AFCON U20 in Egypt last year, showed that he has matured into a fine senior with a well executed brace, adding on to Pape Gueye’s first half goal.

Gambia had to finish the match with 10 men after Ebou Adams was sent off towards the end of the first half. Adams had initially been shown yellow, but after consulting the VAR, the referee changed from yellow to red.

Senegal had a brilliant start to the game, Gueye opening the scoring after just four minutes. The forward curled the ball into the bottom right after being teed up by Sadio Mane.

In the second half, Senegal stepped up the tempo and they were 2-0 up seven minutes after the restart, Camara battling inside the box before shooting low past the keeper.

They sealed the victory four minutes from time in exquisite fashion, the youngster curling the ball into the top left after a cut back from Iliman Ndiaye.

The victory sees Senegal fly to the top of Group C, and make a statement of intent to become only the fourth team to defend the AFCON title.

Meanwhile in the same group, Cameroon and Guinea played to a 1-1 draw.

AFCON favorites Cameroon held to draw by Guinea

Cameroon celebrate their equalizer against Guinea. PHOTO/CAF

Frank Magri scored the equalizer for the Indomitable Lions after Mohamed Bayo had given the Guineans the lead. Guinea had to play the entire second half with 10 men after skipper Francois Kamano was sent off in first half added time for a rush challenge.

Guinea had scored first, when Bayo hit the back of the net in the 10th minute. His initial effort was saved by keeper Fabrice Ondoa, who was starting ahead of Andre Onana who arrived at the team camp late.

Cameroon’s backline fumbled with the clearance and the ball landed on Bayo, who squeezed it between the keeper’s legs.

In the second half, with a one man advantage, Cameroon raided more and were rewarded in the 52st minute when Magri headed the ball beyond the keeper from a brilliantly laid in Georges-Kevin N’Koudou cross.

The goal gave the Cameroonians some more energy and especially with a one-man advantage.

However, they could not get their finishing right with lead striker Karl Toko Ekambi, who was stepping in for the injured skipper Vincent Abubakar, wasted several opportunities.

Angola hold Algeria in Bouake 

Mabululu celebrates his equalizer for Angola. PHOTO/CAF

In the late kick off on the third day of action, Agostinho ‘Mabululu’ Paciência scored a second half penalty as Angola fought from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Algeria in their opening Group D match at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.

Baghdad Bounedjah had given the 2019 champions an early first half lead, but Angola’s fight sailed them through as they earned a point.

Algeria had a brilliant start to the game, playing with pace and determination. They got into the lead in the 18th minute when Bounedjah fired a brilliant one time effort on the volley after Youcef Bellaili’s pass dinked over the backline to find his run.

Bounedjah almost scored an early contender for goal of the season when he controlled the ball on his chest and fired a brilliant acrobatic kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. A confirmation on VAR showed that the forward was just inches ahead of the final defender.

In the second half though, Angola fought back. They punished Algeria’s wastefulness in the 65th minute from the spot. Mabululu, who had come on four minutes before the break was hacked down in the box by Nabil Bentaleb.

He took the responsibility on his shoulder, striking a strong effort that came off the underside of the bar, beyond the line and back into play. Just to ensure the goal would count, he pounced on the rebound and sent it back into the net.

The equalizer stunned Algeria and they made attempts to get back into the game, but were unsuccessful. Ait Nouri came close when he dribbled to shot from distance, but the effort was wide.