Both reigning champion Senegal and five-time world champion Cameroon were able to play as favorites in the first group stage of the African Championship with a numerical advantage throughout the second half. Senegal beat Gambia 3-0, but Cameroon were limited to a 1-1 draw against Guinea.
Senegal (20th in the FIFA world rankings) took the lead against Gambia (126th) in the fourth minute when Sadio Mane crossed and Pape Gueye headed the ball into the bottom corner.
In the extra minutes of the first half, Gambia found themselves in the minority when Ebou Adams received the first red card of the tournament for a serious foul in an off-ball situation.
In the second half Lamine Camara scored a brace, becoming the only top scorer of the tournament. Particularly beautiful was Camara’s second goal: after Iliman Ndiaye’s beautiful dribbling, he sent a long-range shot onto the crossbar with just one touch.
Cameroon (46th place in the world) lost to Guinea (80th place) in the tenth minute, when the Guineans won the ball in the opponent’s penalty area due to high pressure and Mohamed Bayo pushed the ball into the goal.
However, in the extra minutes of the first half, the leading team were in the minority, as captain Francois Kamano got on the heels of Frank Magri, who deserved a red card.
Magri himself punished his opponents in the 51st minute, when he launched himself vigorously into the air and headed Georges-Kevin N’Koudou’s cross into the net. However, Cameroon failed to score the winning goal in the remaining time.
Senegal shines at the top of Group C with three points. Cameroon and Guinea both have one point and Gambia zero.
In the first match of group D, Algeria and Angola drew 1:1. Favorites Algeria took the lead with a shot from Baghdad Bounedjah, but midway through the second half Mabululu equalised, hitting the penalty with a crossbar just over the goal line.
Although Bounedjah had scored a goal, he must have felt the pinch as his beautiful scissors kick goal was disallowed due to a narrow offside.
Subgroup C:
Senegal – Gambia 3:0 (1:0)
4. Pape Gueye, 52., 86. Lamine Camara
Elimination: 45+8. Ebou Adams (Gambia)
Cameroon – Guinea 1:1 (0:1)
51. Frank Magri – 10. Mohamed Bayo
Elimination: 45+3. Francois Kamano (Guinea)
Subgroup D:
Algeria – Angola 1:1 (1:0)
18. Baghdad Bounedjah – 68. pen. Mabululu
2024-01-15 23:01:58
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