Defending champions Senegal secured their place in the Round of 16 at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 after a dominant 3-1 win against Cameroon at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
The Teranga Lions showed their title defense intent with a hard-fought victory that showcased their prowess on Friday evening.
Ismaila Sarr was the star of the show, opening the scoring for Senegal with a clinical finish in the 16th minute. The 25-year-old forward capitalized on a rebound after a teasing pass inside the box to give Senegal an early lead.
The Teranga Lions continued to control the game into the second half, doubling their lead through Habib Dailo, who converted a perfect pass from Sarr.
Cameroon clawed back into contention when Jean Charles Castelleto headed home a cross from Oliver Ntcham in the 83rd minute, making it 2-1. However, Senegal sealed the deal with Sadio Mane finding the back of the net in the dying minutes, securing a 3-1 victory.
With this win, Senegal has amassed 6 points from 2 games, ensuring their qualification for the knockout stage with a game to spare. On the other hand, Cameroon will need a victory in their last group match against Gambia on Tuesday to progress. Senegal will conclude their group stage campaign against Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium on Tuesday, 23 January, aiming to maintain their momentum as they pursue continental glory.
