After a shock-filled Sunday where smaller teams upset heavyweight opponents at this year’s edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Senegal restored faith in the form book as Pape Gueye scored early and Lamine Camara added two more in the West African nation’s opening Group C encounter against Gambia.
Gueye put Senegal ahead in the fourth minute at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, while 20-year-old Camara, voted CAF Young African Player of the Year in 2023, underlined his promise with a fine finish seven minutes after the break and a sublime second into the top corner four minutes from time.
Senegal's Pape Gueye, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match against Gambia at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Jan. 15, 2024.
Gambia played the second half on the back foot after Ebou Adams was sent off for a needless stamp on Camara in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Prior to Adams being sent off, the Gambians were already up facing tough opposition as Gueye swept the ball home after being teed up by Sadio Mane. Gambia’s captain Omar Colley’s poor clearance found Mane unmarked on the left and he laid the ball back for the oncoming 34-year-old defensive midfielder to score.
Adams caught Camara on his heel long after the ball had gone and initially received a caution. But after a Virtual Assistant Referee, VAR, check it was changed to red, leaving the Cardiff City defender banned for the next two matches.
Two passes from deep in defense led to Senegal doubling the score with some simplicity, as captain Kalidou Koulibaly found Ismaila Sarr in midfield and he, in turn, threaded a defense-splitting pass for Camara to run onto and score.
Senegal's Lamine Camara, center, shoots the ball to score his side's second goal during the African Cup of Nations Group C soccer match against Gambia at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Jan. 15, 2024.
Iliman Ndiaye’s dribbling on the right of the attack set up the third goal with Ndiaye cleverly working his way across the penalty box before passing for Camara to score.
Gambia, who reached the quarterfinals of the 2021 AFCON tournament in a surprise performance, offered little in attack save for an early shot from Musa Barrow that Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy punched away to safety.
Cameroon and Guinea meet later on Monday in the second Group C game in the Ivorian capital, Yamoussoukro.