Ismaila Sarr scored one goal and laid on one more as reigning champs Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 on Friday January 19. The Teranga Lions have now reserved their position in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving their rivals in some danger.
Sarr opened the scoring in the first half of the AFCON Group C match in Yamoussoukro after an error by Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was playing his first game of the competition after a late appearance in the Ivory Coast team.
Habib Diallo added the second goal from Sarr’s cross before Jean-Charles Castelletto scored a late consolation for Cameroon. Sadio Mane finished the scoring for Senegal in injury time.
With a game remaining in their group against Guinea, Senegal advances to the knockout stages. Cameroon will play Gambia in their last match. Both of those matches are on Tuesday 23 January.
With six points from their two games, Senegal top the group. Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia each have one point, but Gambia hasn’t won in a while. The last two sides will meet at the same venue later on Friday.
Cameroon hardly tested Senegal keeper Édouard Mendy until the final 10 minutes when they could have earned a point after a limp performance that followed a 1-1 draw with Guinea in their opener, alarming form for coach Rigobert Song.
Song chose Onana because the goalkeeper missed the Guinea match to play for Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. However, the manner in which the first goal was conceded will frustrate him.
After Onana tried to clear a cross but didn’t get the height or distance he needed, the ball fell to the winger, who shot deflectedly into the bottom corner on the 16th minute.
Sarr then, at that point, turned supplier when he was left on the right-hand side of the case and his low cross was diverted home from four yards by Diallo.
The goal re-energised the Cameroonians and they found a way back into the game with that goal from a corner as Castelletto headed in Olivier Ntcham’s cross.
After Georges-Kevin Nkoudou made a terrible mistake at the back post, the goalkeeper saw his shot go wide.
Senegal went up and sealed the three points when Mane netted their third goal in injury time.
