On Monday, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast continued with Group C and D matches.
Here is a round-up of the matches, courtesy of Cafonline.
Reigning Champions start title defence on a high
Senegal opened their title defense campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over The Gambia at Yamoussoukro’s Stade Charles Konan Banny.
Pape Gueye’s early strike, accompanied by a Lamine Camara second-half brace, was enough for the Senegalese to grab a massive victory.
Up next for the defending champions is a mouth-watering tie against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Friday, 19 January.
Cameroon draw with ten-man Guinea
Guinea and Cameroon played out a 1-1 draw in a tense encounter at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the second Group C game of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
Guinea took an early lead through Mohamed Bayo after pouncing on a loose ball inside the penalty box.
Their captain, Francois Kamano was later red-carded after a VAR check. He fouled Cameroonian midfielder Olivier Ntcham towards the end of the first half.
Cameroon took advantage of the numerical disadvantage of the Guineans in the second half and got the equalizer six minutes into the second half following Frank Magri’s show of superb aerial ability to pounce onto a free kick to render the game 1-1.
Cameroon will play defending champions, Senegal on Friday, January 19 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Angola snatch draw against Algeria
Angolan striker Cristovao Mabululu rescued a vital point for his side after converting from the spot to hold Algeria to a 1-1 stalemate at Bouake’s Stade De La Paix in their Group C opener against the former champions.
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The Desert Foxes opened the scoring lines through Baghdad Bounedjah, who comfortably slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
After the break, Angola got their equaliser in the 68th minute when substitute, Mabululu converted from the spot kick after he was fouled in the box by Nabil Bentaleb.
Next for Algeria will be a clash against Burkina Faso on Saturday at 14h00, while Angola face Mauritania in the 20h00 Kick Off.