- Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1
- Cape Verde were 3-0 winners over Mozambique
- Fate is now out of the hands of Mozambique and Cameroon
Senegal, the Africa Cup of Nations defending champions and Islanders Cape Verde became the first team to book a slot in the round of 16 at this year’s showpiece after picking their second successive wins at the group stages.
Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1, while Cape Verde qualified after a brilliant 3-0 win over Mozambique.
Holders Senegal were a class above Cameroon, clearly showing why they are the defending champions and the best team in Africa with a well worked result.
The result means that the worst Senegal can finish, even if they lose their last match, will be second spot, thus guaranteeing them a place in the next round.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo and Sadio Mane gave Senegal victory, with Cameroon’s consolation coming off Jean Charles Castelletto.
Cameroon handed a starting berth to keeper Andre Onana, who missed the opening game as he arrived from Manchester on the day of the match.
It wasn’t a pleasant return for Onana who picked the ball from his net after just 16 minutes, Sarr scoring with a brilliant low shot on the turn from a Pape Matar Sarr pass.
It turned out to be a contest between the two sides with Cameroon trying to undo the Senegalese backline to get a goal.
Senegal adds a second through Diallo
Ismaila Sarr celebrates his goal for Senegal. PHOTO/CAF
Their efforts were however undone in the 70th minute when Diallo stretched a foot to tap the ball home from close range off a well laid Sarr cross from the right.
Cameroon redeemed their hopes when they halved the deficit in the 83rd minute, Castelletto heading brilliantly home from an Olivier Ntcham cross off a short corner.
But their hopes of at least a draw were all but undone in the third minute of added time when Mane scored with a well struck shot from Idrissa Gueye’s low cross.
Cameroon are now under pressure, with coach Rigobert Song being under intense scrutiny after an underwhelming performance in their first two games of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde were unstoppable against a helpless Mozambique side.
The victory took them to six points, following their opening day win over Ghana and top of Group B. Cape Verde are assured of finishing first even if they lose their next match, as second placed Egypt have two points, with one game pending in the group.
Goals from Bebe, Ryan Mendes and Kevin Lenini were enough to hand them victory. Mozambique on their end, now have fate out of their hands and will only be left to hope they can win their last match against Ghana for them to have a feint chance of qualification. This will be only if other results work in their favour.
Cape Verde in cruise control
Cape Verde players celebrate one of their three goals against Mozambique. PHOTO/CAF
Cape Verde showed that their win against Ghana was no fluke as they started fast off the blocks. They broke the deadlock after 32 minutes, Bebe striking an unstoppable swerving freekick from almost 40 yards out beating the keeper.
The forward had shown early signs of his prowess from deadballs, having minutes earlier seen another thunderous freekick crush against the crossbar.
Mozambique thought they had a way back into the game in the 39th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Geny Catamo went down inside the box, but VAR ruled it out after review.
Cape Verde then took the game to their hands in the second half, captain Mendes making it 2-0 after 51 minutes shooting low into the net, capitalizing on a defensive mistake.
With a two-goal advantage, Cape Verde was on top of their game commanding possession and attacking with ease.
Lenini then completed the job in the 69th minute with a blinder from distance, curling the ball beyond the keeper’s reach with a brilliant shot.
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