Senegal opened Monday their Africa Cup of Nations challenge with an unsurprising victory over The Gambia in a game played in Charles Konan-Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro.
It didn’t take long for the Teranga Lions to settle into the game as Marseille’s midfielder Pape Gueye opened the scoring after just four minutes. He was at the right place at the right time when he was teed up by Sadio Mane.
Senegal made the numerical advantage count as Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams was dismissed for The Gambia for a violent action just before half-time.
The second period of the game was marked by Camara’sdouble (52nd) and a classy third in the corner (86th). The second of Metz’s 20-year old midfielder is the best goal of the tournament so far.
The Lions of Teranga who aim to become the first team to retain the AFCON trophy since Egypt’s three-peat (2006-2010), showed flashing signs of the quality that led them to the bonanza two years ago, despite fielding a largely new starting XI.
