Senegal starts Africa Cup defense with comfortable 3-0 win over Gambia. Cameroon held 1-1 by Guinea
Senegal's Lamine Camara, center, gestures as he scores his side's second goal past Gambia's goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye, bottom left, during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Gambia at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Credit: AP/Sunday Alamba
YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast — Lamine Camara scored twice as defending champion Senegal started the Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3-0 win over Gambia on Monday.
Camara’s second strike was arguably the goal of the tournament so far, a shot inside the right top corner from around 20 meters (yards) in the 86th after being set up by Iliman Ndiaye.
Sadio Mané, who is hoping to lead the country to a second straight title, got his team off to a good start in the fourth minute when he set up Pape Gueye for the opener.
Gambia had already endured an ordeal to reach the competition when the team's airplane experienced a sudden loss of oxygen, and its task was made even harder in first-half injury time when Ebou Adams was sent off for catching Camara at the back of his heel. It was the first red card of the tournament.
Camara scored his first goal early in the second half with a low strike inside the far post after making a run into the area.
“It's too early to speak about the trophy. It's important to take it game by game,” Mané said.
CAMEROON FRUSTRATED
Senegal's players celebrate after teammate Lamine Camara scored their side's second goal during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Gambia at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Credit: AP/Sunday Alamba
Five-time champion Cameroon was held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Guinea in the other Group C game.
The “Indomitable Lions” suffered an early setback when Mohamed Bayo capitalized on a defensive mistake and fired the ball through Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa’s legs in the 10th minute.
Guinea, which has never won the tournament, showed no fear of its illustrious opponent and pushed for more, despite the absence of star player Serhou Guirassy, whose fitness evidently remained a concern after taking a knock in a warmup win over Nigeria.
However, Guinea forward Francois Kamano became the second player to be sent off in the tournament in first-half injury time for connecting with the back of Frank Magri’s ankle.
Senegal supporters celebrate at the tribune at the end of the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match between Senegal and Gambia at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Senegal won 3-0. Credit: AP/Sunday Alamba
Magri answered with the equalizer in the 51st, headed in from close range from Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s cross.
But the “National Elephants” held on with goalkeeper Ibrahim Koné earning huge cheers for a late double-save.
Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana failed to make Cameroon’s squad despite a grueling effort to make the game on time after playing for United in the Premier League on Sunday.
ANGOLA FIGHTS FOR A POINT
Algeria’s bid for a second Africa Cup title got off to a lackluster start as the “Desert Foxes” were held 1-1 by Angola in their Group D opener in the city of Bouaké.
Baghdad Bounedjah capitalized on a defensive mistake to give Algeria a 19th-minute lead but the favorites failed to make more of their chances in the first half and Angola played with more courage in the second.
The “Black Sable Antelopes” were duly rewarded when Nabil Bentaleb fouled Mabululu in the penalty area. The forward dusted himself off to score the resulting penalty in the 68th. The ball bounced in off the crossbar, then back out again, but Mabululu rushed in to make sure.
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