Senegal secured a spot in the next round of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with one group game to spare, following a 3-1 victory over Cameroon in Yamoussoukro on Friday night,Daily Trust report.
Ismaila Sarr of Marseille opened the scoring for the reigning champions and later assisted Habib Diallo for the second goal. Despite a goal from Jean-Charles Castelletto for Cameroon, Senegal sealed a convincing win as talisman Sadio Mane netted late in the game.
Senegal now boasts a perfect six points from two Group C matches, while Cameroon, with only one point, faces uncertainty in their bid to advance to the last 16.
Marseille forward Sarr, reflecting on the victory, stated, “I remember that in 2017 we lost to Cameroon in the quarter-finals, so during this match we did everything to win.”
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In another Group C match, Guinea, missing star striker Serhou Guirassy once again, secured a 1-0 win over Gambia, with Aguibou Camara scoring in the second half. Guinea is now second in the group with four points, needing just a draw against Senegal in their next match to guarantee qualification for the last 16.
Cameroon and Gambia will face each other next, with both teams having the opportunity to progress as two of the four best third-placed teams.
Earlier in Group B, Cape Verde became the first team to qualify for the last 16 with a convincing 3-0 win over Mozambique in Abidjan. Former Manchester United forward Bebe’s remarkable 40-meter free-kick, Captain Ryan Mendes’ goal, and Kevin Pina’s stunning strike secured Cape Verde’s biggest-ever AFCON victory, placing them at the top of Group B with six points.
Mendes expressed confidence in their progress, stating, “I don’t know how far we can go. Now we are into the last 16 and we just need to keep working as we have been.”
Cape Verde is set to face a third-placed team in the last-16 tie on January 29, staying in Abidjan for the match. Mozambique, appearing in their fifth Cup of Nations, has yet to win a match in 14 attempts at the tournament.
