Senegal vs Cameroon 3-1: CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 – as it happened
All the updates as defending champions Senegal outclassed Cameroon at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, January 19, 2024:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, January 19, 2024:
- Defending champions Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 in AFCON Group C and seal their place in the last 16.
- With one point from two games, the Indomitable Lions will have it it all to do in their final group stage game against The Gambia.
- Senegal beat The Gambia 3-0 in their opening match, while Cameroon drew 1-1 with Guinea.
- Goalkeeper Andre Onana started for the Indomitable Lions against Senegal after missing the first game to play for Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
It’s a wrap
It was a slow start to the game, with Senegal dominating the play after an early goal from Ismaila Sarr.
After Diallo made it two-nil in the 71st minute it looked all but over. Senegal even brought off their two goalscorers and appeared to be intent on simply seeing out the game.
Then came a delightful, powerful header from Castelletto, and Cameroon, from seemingly nowhere, were back in the game.
Almost immediately, they came agonisingly close with N’Koudou missing a gilt-edged chance.
Eventually, it was that man again, Mane, who showed his quality by converting a low cross into the corner of the net.
Senegal will surely consider themselves real contenders for this tournament after two dominant performances.
We can only thank both teams for today’s football match and thank you, readers, for keeping us company.
Do make sure to join us again as we continue our coverage of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
The Senegalese Football Federation celebrate making the last 16
𝙁𝙄𝙉 𝘿𝙀 𝙈𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃 | Deuxième victoire en autant de rencontres dans le groupe C pour le Sénégal qui s’impose 3-1 contre le Cameroun. Nos lions sont d’ores et déjà qualifiés en huitièmes de finale. #SENCAM #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/a8f93jzUyJ
— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) January 19, 2024
Translation: End of match | A second victory in as many matches in Group C for Senegal, who won 3-1 against Cameroon. Our lions have already qualified for the round of 16.
Ismaila Sarr is named Man of the Match
🇸🇳 Ismaila Sarr 🇸🇳
With a goal and an assist Ismaila Sarr is named the TotalEnergies Man of the Match 🌟#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #SENCMR | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/yc1bT3qP9L
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 19, 2024
Some stats
- Both teams scored with every shot on target.
- Cameroon had 54 percent possession.
- Cameroon completed 376 passes to Senegal’s 335.
Senegal fully deserved the win
Aside from a five-minute period after their goal, Cameroon were never really in the game.
Senegal were defensively solid and showed creativity and quality in the final third.
The Lions of Teranga will certainly fancy their chances in this tournament having scored six goals in two games.
Sadio Mane gets his first goal at the AFCON 2023. He is the team’s fifth different goal scorer at the tournament in just two games.
He runs straight to hug former Senegal 🇸🇳 captain Cheikhou Kouyate who recently lost his father in Dakar and had to leave the camp. pic.twitter.com/zNKIEu3idN
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) January 19, 2024
Senegal win!
The referee blows his whistle.
Full time: Senegal 3-1 Cameroon
Mane shows his quality
Gueye put in a low cross from the right and Mane just steered in a low-placed shot from the edge of the box.
A nicely worked goal.
90+5 mins: Senegal 3-1 Cameroon
GOAL!
Sadio Mane puts the game out of reach with a smartly taken goal.
90+5 mins: Senegal 3-1 Cameroon
So close for Cameroon
How did N’Koudou miss?
That was a marvellous cross from Castelletto, but it is headed wide from almost point-blank range
90+1 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
Substitution for Cameroon
Tchato out for Tchamadeu.
90 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
Substitution for Senegal
Camara goes down injured and is stretchered off.
He will be replaced by Ciss.
89 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
Cameroon go close!
N’Koudou almost latches on to a long ball that is knocked on by a Magri.
This looks like a completely different Cameroon.
86 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
What a header from Castelletto!
A towering powerful header after Ntcham puts in a lovely cross from the right.
Game on!
84 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
GOAL!
Cameroon pull one back!
83 mins: Senegal 2-1 Cameroon
Double substitution for Senegal
Diallo, who went down with a small knock, makes way for Jackson.
Ismaila Sarr is off for Ndiaye.
81 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
Substitution
Cameroon’s Neyou makes way for Ntcham.
78 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
Senegal in cruise control
Cameroon are showing their frustration now, with badly timed tackles.
Senegal playing it around nicely. They are in no rush.
77 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
Neyou shown a yellow
Neyou with a rash lunging tackle on Ismaila Sarr who stays down.
Eventually, Sarr rises to his feet and Neyou apologises. That could have ended badly.
75 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
A simple, nicely worked goal
Diallo latches on to a low Ismaila Sarr cross from the left.
It was an easy finish in the end. Song will be furious with Cameroon’s defensive line there.
71 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
GOAL!
71 mins: Senegal 2-0 Cameroon
Mendy with a mistake
He attempts to catch a cross but the ball bounces off his chest and against Koulibaly.
The ball then deflects off the defender back to Mendy, who knocks it out for a corner.
69 mins: Senegal 1-0 Cameroon
Ngamaleu overhits another cross
A nice Cameroon move ends with another poor delivery.
They need to improve the quality of their set pieces and crosses if they are going to pierce this Senegalese defence.
68 mins: Senegal 1-0 Cameroon
Three corners in a row for Cameroon
Ngamaleu puts in two corners from the right. Both are cleared. N’Koudou then swings one in from the left, and it is hastily cleared by Senegal.
Cameroon win it back and pick up a free kick, but it is overhit by N’Koudou.
65 mins: Senegal 1-0 Cameroon
A few tough challenges going in now
Ngamaleu is involved in a pushing incident and Diallo picks up a yellow card. Nothing serious so far, but the match is starting to heat up.
61 mins: Senegal 1-0 Cameroon
An excellent tackle from Tolo
The onrushing Jakobs goes to ground, but the last-ditch tackle was perfectly timed.
55 mins: Senegal 1-0 Cameroon