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    Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group C football match between Senegal and Gambia
    Senegal have won their opening game at each of the last five editions of the Africa Cup of Nations

    Holders Senegal began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with victory over 10-man underdogs The Gambia.

    Pape Gueye gave the Teranga Lions the ideal start, collecting Sadio Mane's pass to fire in a fourth-minute opener from inside the penalty area.

    Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams was dismissed for The Gambia for an off-the ball challenge just before half-time.

    Lamine Camara doubled Senegal's lead with a low finish after the break and curled in a classy third from distance.

    With Cameroon facing Guinea in the other Group C match on Monday (17:00 GMT), Senegal's fourth win of a five-match unbeaten run gave Aliou Cisse's side early control of the group as they kept a fifth successive clean sheet.

    The Gambia, whose Fifa ranking of 126th is the lowest of any team involved in the tournament in the Ivory Coast, threatened first when Edouard Mendy beat away Alasana Manneh's fierce left-footed attempt from distance.

    After Gueye's opener, Habib Diallo also went close for Senegal, while Musa Barrow and Ali Sowe sent first-half efforts wide for The Gambia.

    Despite Adams' dismissal, via the video assistant referee, in first-half stoppage time, the underdogs almost equalised early in the second period but for a flying Mendy save to deny Barrow.

    After Camara doubled Senegal's advantage, Gambia goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye produced a fine stop to prevent Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson from scoring off the bench, and Ismail Jakobs also fired wide from a tight angle.

    Camara's second owed much to a flourish of trickery from Iliman Ndiaye on the right, as he demonstrated masterful control to toy with his markers and angle a low pass back to the Metz midfielder, whose right-footed strike from outside the box arced over Gaye and into the far corner of the net.

    Senegal will return to Yamoussoukro's Charles Konan Banny Stadium to meet Cameroon in their second group-stage match on Friday (17:00 GMT).

    Tom Saintfiet's Gambia will attempt to end a run of three successive defeats against Guinea - the team they beat to reach the quarter-finals against the odds at Afcon 2021 - in the subsequent game at the same venue (20:00 GMT).

    Line-ups

    Senegal

    Formation 4-3-3

    • 16Mendy
    • 15Diatta
    • 3Koulibaly
    • 19Niakhaté

      Substituted forSeckat 81'minutes

    • 14Jakobs
    • 25CamaraBooked at 90mins
    • 22DialloBooked at 9mins

      Substituted forCissat 58'minutes

    • 26Gueye

      Substituted forMendyat 79'minutes

    • 18Sarr

      Substituted forNdiayeat 78'minutes

    • 20Diallo

      Substituted forJacksonat 58'minutes

    • 10Mané

    Substitutes

    • 1Gomis
    • 2Mendy
    • 4Seck
    • 5Gueye
    • 6Mendy
    • 7Jackson
    • 8Kouyaté
    • 11Ciss
    • 13Ndiaye
    • 17Sarr
    • 23Diaw
    • 24Sima

    Gambia

    Formation 4-3-2-1

    • 18Gaye
    • 17Janko
    • 12Gomez
    • 5Colley
    • 13Touray

      Substituted forFaderaat 75'minutes

    • 16Manneh

      Substituted forBarryat 66'minutes

    • 8AdamsBooked at 45mins
    • 24Darboe

      Substituted forCeesayat 83'minutes

    • 20Minteh

      Substituted forSanyangat 83'minutes

    • 10Barrow
    • 26Sowe

      Substituted forBadamosiat 66'minutes

    Substitutes

    • 1Jobe
    • 2Barry
    • 4Ngum
    • 6Marreh
    • 7Fadera
    • 9Ceesay
    • 11Sanyang
    • 14Sonko Sundberg
    • 15Mendy
    • 21Sanneh
    • 23Badamosi
    • 25Sanneh
    Referee:
    Rédouane Jiyed

    Match Stats

    Live Text

    1. Match ends, Senegal 3, Gambia 0.

    2. Second Half ends, Senegal 3, Gambia 0.

    3. Foul by Nicolas Jackson (Senegal).

    4. James Gomez (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    5. Offside, Gambia. Alieu Fadera is caught offside.

    6. Lamine Camara (Senegal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

    7. Foul by Lamine Camara (Senegal).

    8. Musa Barrow (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    9. Offside, Senegal. Sadio Mané is caught offside.

    10. Corner, Senegal. Conceded by Assan Ceesay.

    11. Ismail Jakobs (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    12. Foul by Assan Ceesay (Gambia).

    13. Krépin Diatta (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    14. Foul by Abdoulie Sanyang (Gambia).

    15. Attempt missed. Muhammed Badamosi (Gambia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Musa Barrow following a set piece situation.

    16. Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Senegal).

    17. Assan Ceesay (Gambia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

    18. Attempt missed. Abdoulaye Seck (Senegal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lamine Camara with a cross following a corner.

    19. Attempt blocked. Nampalys Mendy (Senegal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ismail Jakobs.

    20. Corner, Senegal. Conceded by Assan Ceesay.

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