Defending champion Senegal started the African Cup of Nations campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Gambia, on Monday.
Aliou Cissé’s men defeated Gambia 3-0 to obtain their first points in Group C in a closely contested match at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye and a double from young Lamine Camara.
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.
Facing the Teranga Lions,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.
In addition, their preparation was marred by a canceled match against Morocco, and a players’ strike in training.
In the other favorite Group C match, Cameroon, did not respond. The indomitable lions, third in the last edition at home and second most successful country with five coronations behind Egypt, experienced a complicated first meeting against Guinea in match score which ended 1-1.
The national Syli of Guinea opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Bayo. Rigobert Song’s men equalized in the 51st minute, through Franck Magri’s goal with a header.
The score was enough to give a little hope to the Indomitable Lions deprived of their scorer and captain, Vincent Aboubacar, injured in training a few days ago.
In a Group D on Monday, Algeria was also forced to a draw. Dominating Angola for a long time, the Fennecs opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Baghdad Bounedjah.
The Palacas Negras equalized in the 68th minute from a penalty converted by Mabululo.
