Thanks to goals from I. Sarr, Diallo and Mané, the reigning African champion beat Cameroon (3-1), Friday January 19 in Yamoussoukro, during the second day of the first round of the African Cup nations in Ivory Coast (group C). The Senegalese Lions are already qualified for the round of 16, while the Indomitable Lions are getting bogged down.
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From our special correspondent at the Charles-Konan-Barry stadium, Nicolas Bamba
It is the end of 34 years of famine. And it is above all a great satisfaction for Senegal. Since the 1990 edition, the Senegalese have not beaten Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations. The trend has finally reversed in this CAN 2024with this deserved success (2-0) obtained in Yamoussoukro on January 19.
Aliou Cissé, the Lions coach, was calm before this first round shock. He and his men showed their respect towards Cameroon but promised to assume their status. They did not fail, in a Charles-Konan-Barry stadium filled for the occasion.
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Sarr and Diallo bring happiness to Senegal
A decisive passer during the clear success recorded against Guinea during the first match (3-0), Ismaïla Sarr turned into a scorer against the Indomitable Lions. Upon receiving a ball boxed by André Onana, back in the Cameroonian cage, the Olympique de Marseille player, with his back to goal, controlled, pivoted and followed up with a shot. His ball, deflected by captain André-Franck Zambo Anguissa, found the net (16e).
In the absence once again of Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon struggled to respond to the challenge and pose a threat to Edouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper. Worse, his few good intentions were dashed in the second half when the African champion made the break. In the area on the right side, Ismaïla Sarr sent a tight cross out of reach of everyone, except Habib Diallo. The attacker threw himself to tackle this offering into the goal (71e).
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Castelleto gives hope before Mané’s final blow
With a two-goal lead and the confidence gauge full, Senegal seemed to be heading towards a quiet end to the match. But Cameroonian pride is dangerous, both camps warned on the eve of this big poster. Jean-Christophe Castelleto took it upon himself to remind everyone of this. Receiving a perfect cross from new arrival Olivier Ntcham, the defender reduced the gap with an impeccable header (83e).
During the final minutes, Rigobert Song’s men had the 2-2 ball within their reach. But football is sometimes played for nothing. Like this header from Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, at point blank range, which came to die a few centimeters from the Senegalese post… A few moments later, a Senegalese counter finished off Cameroon, with this strike from Sadio Mané out of Onana’s reach (90+5e). The goal of deliverance for all of Senegal.
With six points out of six and six goals on the clock, it’s a solid success for the Lions, with the added bonus of the provisional title of best attack of this CAN. The African champions are guaranteed to be in the round of 16. The Indomitable Lions have greatly jeopardized their chances. They are still in progress but will have to fight and carefully follow what the Gambia and Guinea do.
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