AFCON Daily: Big-hitters continue to struggle but Senegal show their quality
In today’s edition of AFCON Daily, read all about Senegal’s emphatic 3-0 win over Gambia, Cameroon and Algeria’s 1-1 draws with Guinea and Angola respectively and also everything to look forward to today as we head towards the end of matchday one.
Senegal 3 – 0 Gambia
An early opener from Pape Gueye, a Gambia red, and a brace from AFCON debutant Lamine Camara secured all three points for Senegal. They confidently opened their title defence campaign with the 3-0 win.
Senegal’s first goal came after Gambia failed to clear their lines, allowing Sadio Mané to square the ball to a wide-open Gueye who fired into the bottom left corner to give the title holders a 1-0 lead in the fourthminute.
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1746896991303393387
And it only got worse for Gambia as midfielder Adams was shown a straight red in the eighth minute of added time to close out the first half.
Senegal doubled their lead in the 52nd minute via 20-year-old Camara’s low drive from the edge of the 18-yard box. It was Camara who once again found the back of the net in the 86th minute through a beautiful shot into the top-right corner. Camara’s brace all but confirmed the victory for Senegal.
The reigning champions were clinical in front of goal, and, with Adams’ dismissal, it was a hill too big to climb for Gambia as they failed to find a breakthrough.
The biggest drama of the match might’ve been the broadcasting issues, rather than the game itself. As opposed to Senegal’s fast start, the Sky Sports commentary did not kick in until the 16th minute, meaning fans viewed the opening goal with only the sounds of the crowd in the background. Further, the television feed cut out for all broadcasters worldwide around the 26th minute. It did not come back until the start of the second half.
Viewers can only hope these are the last of the technical difficulties at this major tournament. Nonetheless, Senegalese fans can rest assured after their solid opening game in Group C.
Julia Andersen
Cameroon 1 – 1 Guinea
Five-time AFCON champions Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Guinea as Rigobert Song’s men failed to impress.
Mohamed Bayo fired Guinea ahead after an indecisive Cameroonian defence failed to clear their lines. Guinean captain Francois Kamano was then shown a straight red card on the stroke of halftime after stamping on Frank Magri’s heel.
Magri headed Cameroon level five minutes after the break, but despite being a man down the entire second half, Guinea held on for a well-deserved point.
Guinea started bright and were almost ahead in the seventh minute, when Mouctar Diakhaby headed over Ilaix Moriba’s brilliantly taken set-piece.
Two minutes later they did lead, as calamitous defending led to Olivier Kemen being dispossessed on the edge of the Cameroonian box, and Bayo calmly slotted past Fabrice Ondoa.
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1746943804551106903
Cameroon failed to create anything of substance in the first half. Their best chance came from a Georges-Kévin Nkoudou set piece, but André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s header went just wide.
They were handed a lifeline just before the break, as Kamano was shown a straight red after a VAR check for treading on Magri’s heal in the centre circle.
The Indomitable Lions equalised in the 51st minute, as Magri towered above Sekou Sylla at the back post and headed in a vicious in-swinging cross from Nkoudou.
Karl Toko Ekambi almost won it for Cameroon two minutes from time, finding space in a congested Guinean box and getting a shot off, but Ibrahim Koné’s save earned the Syli National a hard-fought point.
Emile Nuh
Algeria 1 -1 Angola
Algeria continued the trend of surprise results in the 2023 AFCON, as they drew 1-1 with Angola in the Group D opener.
After a dominant start, Algeria deservedly took the lead through Baghdad Bounedjah and were the far superior side going into half-time.
But an inspired 41st minute substitution from Angola manager Pedro Gonçalves changed the course of the game, as substitute Mavululu equalised from the spot in the second half.
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1747009131112698255
Algeria started the game as the dominant side, combining well in attacking areas and calling Angola keeper Neblu into action on a couple of occasions.
They deservedly took the lead 18 minutes in, through the dangerous Bounedjah. He latched onto a simple ball over the top and smashed past Neblu.
Bounedjah almost had a quick-fire double in spectacular fashion, but his acrobatic over-head kick was ruled out by the offside flag.
Such was the domination of Algeria in the first half, Angola manager Pedro Gonçalves felt he needed to make a first half change, replacing Bruno Paz with striker Mabululu.
After the substitution, Angola had more control and were not getting cut through as easily by the Algeria midfielders.
Their pressure paid off, when substitute Mabululu was fouled in the box by Nabil Bentaleb. Mabululu stepped up and scored from the spot with 68 minutes on the clock.
Algeria pushed for a winner but struggled to create anything of note as Angola defended valiantly, particularly in the last few minutes.
Michael Thomas
What’s on today?
Burkina Faso v Mauritania (14:00 GMT)
Burkina Faso have an impressive recent record in the AFCON, making the semi-finals in two of the last three editions of the tournament, as well as a run to the final in 2013, and they head into the tournament in form, winning three of their last five matches.
Meanwhile, Mauritania have never recorded a win at the AFCON, so it’s fair to say Burkina Faso go into the fixture with the stronger tournament pedigree.
Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore is the Burkina Faso captain but he is an injury doubt
Burkina Faso may be without Bertrand Traore due to injury, so watch out for Dango Ouattara in the attack. He has established a dangerous strike partnership with Cedric Badolo, the pair will be a handful for the Mauritania defenders.
Tunisia v Namibia (17:00 GMT)
Tunisia, the 2004 winners, have failed to win any of their last four opening matches at the AFCON, a record they’ll be hoping to change against Namibia.
If Namibia manage to beat Tunisia, it would be their first ever win in an AFCON fixture. A lot of their pre-tournament hopes rest on Peter Shalulile’s shoulders.
The 30-year-old scored four of Namibia’s six goals in the group stage of the AFCON qualifiers, and he was in esteemed company, being the only player alongside Victor Osimhen and Patson Daka to score in four different matches in qualifying.
Peter Shalulile playing for his club Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa
He will do well to score against Tunisia, as they had the best defensive record in qualifying, conceding just one goal during their six qualifying games for the tournament.
Mali v South Africa (20:00)
The final fixture of the day will be the third encounter between Mali and South Africa at the AFCON, with Mali the winners in the previous two in 2002 and 2013.
In qualifying, only Nigeria (22) scored more goals than Mali (15) while only Tunisia (1) conceded fewer goals.
Despite Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucouré being out injured, Mali still have a strong squad.
Spurs’ Yves Bissouma is Mali’s standout player
One player to watch is Kamory Doumbia. The 20-year-old will be hoping for a breakout tournament, he has scored five and assisted two in 12 Ligue 1 appearances this season and has already scored five goals in just nine caps for Mali.
Bafana Bafana have never reached the heights achieved when they hosted and won the tournament in 1996, but more than half of the squad currently play for Mamelodi Sundowns so their familiarity of playing with each other may help them.
