Senegal roars, Algeria and Cameroon stall from the start… What to remember from Monday’s matches

Senegal began the defense of its title in the best possible way on Monday. The Cameroonians and the Algerians were held in check for their entries into the running.

The last three winners on deck. After a weekend marked by numerous surprises in Ivory Coast, the first day of the CAN continued, Monday January 15, under the sign of the same non-respect for hierarchy. Apart from Senegal which easily dominated its Gambian neighbor at the start of the afternoon (3-0), the other favorites failed to secure a victory. A few hours after Cameroon’s draw against Guinea on which we will undoubtedly have to count for the rest (1-1), Algeria also missed against Angola (1-1).

The sad four following Algeria

That they would have liked to take shelter thanks to this perfect bicycle of Baghdad Bounedjah. Without this goal logically refused for offside, Algeria retreated once the advantage was taken thanks to a first achievement from the Al-Sadd striker, a very valid volley, on a long ball from Youcef Belaïli . Until breaking on a penalty from the Angolan Mabululu transformed with the help of the crossbar.

The Fennecs had however made a good collective impression before the break, and we thought the demons of elimination in the first round during the previous African Cup were over. But it is clear that the homeland of Riyad Mahrez now remains in four matches without a victory in the competition, since its title in 2019. The Algerians will have to recover against Burkina Faso to avoid a final match under pressure.

Senegal asserts itself despite the blackout

The reigning champion can puff out his chest. Ideally launched by the first goal for the selection of Marseillais Pape Gueye on a serve from Sadio Mané, the Senegalese were then carried by the young Lamine Camara to quietly dispose of the Gambia in Yamoussoukro. At the age of 20, the nugget of FC Metz caused the exclusion ofEbou Adams a short distance from the break, before scoring a double against an overwhelmed defense.

A recital that fans of the Lions of Téranga had all the difficulty in the world to follow. The fault lies in a satellite outage which scrambled the international signal for a good part of the match due to a storm in Abidjan, where the center relaying CAN images is located.

Cameroon avoids the worst

Like Egypt and Nigeria the day before, Cameroon got its feet wet against Guinea. Deprived of its historic striker Vincent Aboubakar (injured) and its starting goalkeeper André Onana (arrived late in the selection), the Indomitable Lions were quickly led after a succession of individual errors, which Mohamed Bayo took advantage of to finish strongly and make explode a stadium largely supported by the cause of national Syli.

Unable to build their game during the first period against the consistent Guineans, Rigobert Song’s men owe their salvation only to the red card addressed to François Kamano just before the break. The Cameroonians managed to equalize thanks to a header from Frank Maigri, without really claiming better despite the numerical superiority. A result which does not suit them as the shock of this group C against the Senegalese leader looms on Friday.