Key events
Half-time in both matches!
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon, Guinea 0-0 Senegal. Stalemates all round. Let’s hope for goals, goals, goals in the second half.
Here’s some half-time reading:
Guinea 0-0 Senegal: Mane goes down injured following a challenge by Saidou Sow. He looks to make a meal of it, it would seem. “Finally a talking point in the first half,” observes the commentator. Now, there’s another big round of pushing and shoving as the match moves into first-half stoppage time. It was Jakobs and Keita, among others, who clashed.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Jallow, Minteh and Barrow link up nicely in attack. More defending to do for Cameroon. This is the more dynamic of the two matches, which is hardly surprising considering both sides desperately need a win.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Inside the last five minutes of the first halves … the Gambia are putting a bit of pressure on Cameroon as their half-time oranges and cups of tea beckon.
Guinea 0-0 Senegal: Of Kalidou Koulibaly’s time in Naples, our commentator tells us that the defender was “So popular in the Italian city, they named a pizza after him.” There’s not a massive amount happening on the pitch, so we’ll take what we can get. Senegal and Guinea, astonishingly, might not be too bothered about this finishing 0-0, because that would send them both through to the last 16 …
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Jallow roars down the right wing for the Gambia. It’s a stunning run and he wins a corner, from which Minteh heads goalwards at the far post … Ondoa manages to smother the effort, and Cameroon survive!
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Ali Sowe makes inroads for the Gambia with a determined run, and nearly has a chance to shoot … but he’s crowded out by a couple of opponents. Now we have a cooling break in both matches.
Guinea 0-0 Senegal: Krépin Diatta bends in a free-kick for Aliou Cissé’s team after a long time setting up the set-piece. It’s initially repelled, but Nampalys Mendy then has a crack. But nothing doing.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: The live TV feed drops out for a few seconds. An apologetic red slate appears from Sky Sports, briefly, but the pictures come back soon enough. It’s still 0-0 in both these Group C games.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Minteh storms down the left wing for the Gambia, injecting some much-needed pace into proceedings. It’s a brilliant run and he cuts the ball back well from near the byline – but no one is there to get on the end of it. Jallow wasn’t a million miles away, but Nouhou Tolo was lurking around the penalty spot to clear for Cameroon.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Cameroon have certainly had the best of the first 20 minutes. The Gambia’s Omar Colley has now gone down after a very painful looking 50-50 challenge in midfield with Enzo Tchato. Colley is receiving treatment but he looks OK to continue.
Guinea 0-0 Senegal: Ismaila Sarr runs on to a lovely threaded pass, angled into the penalty box. But the Guinea defence is collectively well positioned and holds firm. It remains goalless in both these games – and let’s just say it stays this way – it would put both Guinea and Senegal through, Senegal as group winners.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Georges-Kévin Nkoudou has a chance to cross with a free-kick from the Cameroon right. He gets it wrong and fails to get the ball over the two-man wall. A corner results, but nothing comes of that either, after it’s also taken by Nkoudou.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Ali Sowe belts a powerful shot from an angle for the Gambia. Fabrice Ondoa beats it out acrobatically.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: Frank Magri goes close for Cameroon, forcing a save from Baboucarr Gaye in goal for the Gambia.
Guinea 0-0 Senegal: Meanwhile in the other match, there’s an almighty bout of pushing and shoving after an off-the-ball clash between opponents. But now it’s all calmed down somewhat.
The Gambia 0-0 Cameroon: The Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh has gone down injured early doors after a clumsy challenge in midfield by Jean-Charles Castelletto of Cameroon.
First half kick-off!
Allez!
Tom Saintfiet, the 50-year-old Belgian in charge of the Gambia, has one hell of a managerial career path.
Here we go then. The players are emerging on to the pitches at both venues for the conclusion of Group C. The Gambia v Cameroon is being staged in Bouaké, Ivory Coast’s second-largest city. Guinea v Senegal is taking place in Yamoussoukro, which FYI is the fourth-largest settlement in the country, according to my sources.
Bob O’Hara has emailed in regarding Ivory Coast’s hopes of progress: “Am I right that if the Gambia v Cameroon is a draw, the hosts qualify for the second round?”
I believe you are right, Bob.
Senegal defeated Cameroon 3-1 last time out, with Sadio Mané’s goal clinching the three points:
Aguibou Camara’s solitary goal earned a 1-0 win for Guinea against the Gambia on the same day.
If photographs of football shirts hanging in changing rooms are your thing, then Caf’s Twitter has got you covered:
Guinea v Senegal teams
Guinea: Kone, Antoine Conte, Mohamed Camara, Sow, Issiaga Sylla, Toure, Diawara, Aguibou Camara, Naby Keita, Facinet Conte, Guirassy. Substitutes: Moriba, Bayo, Diakite, Karim Cisse, Seydouba Cisse, Moussa Camara, Konate, Sekou Sylla, Kante, Aly Keita, Diakhaby, Guilavogui.
Senegal: Edouard Mendy, Diatta, Seck, Koulibaly, Jakobs, Pape Sarr, Pape Gueye, Nampalys Mendy, Ismaila Sarr, Habibou Diallo, Mane. Substitutes: Ahmadou Dieng, Gomis, Formose Mendy, Idrissa Gueye, Jackson, Kouyate, Ciss, Ballo-Toure, Iliman-Cheikh Ndiaye, Diaw, Camara, Niakhate Ndiaye.
The Gambia v Cameroon teams
Cameroon’s André Onana of Manchester United is notably dropped to the bench for this pivotal Group C encounter against the Gambia. Fabrice Ondoa is preferred in goal, with three other changes: Toko Ekambi, Ntcham and Yongwa coming in.
The Gambia: Gaye, Muhammed Sanneh, Gomez, Omar Colley, Mendy, Jallow, Manneh, Bobb, Minteh, Barrow, Sowe. Substitutes: Jobe, Barry, Ngum, Fadera, Ceesay, Sanyang, Touray, Janko, Ebrima Colley, Badamosi, Darboe, Bubacarr Sanneh.
Cameroon: Ondoa, Castelletto, Wooh, Tolo, Tchato, Ntcham, Zambo, Yongwa, Toko Ekambi, Magri, Nkoudou. Substitutes: Moukoudi, Ngamaleu, Kemen, Ateba, Tchamadeu, Gonzalez, Epassy, Neyou, Moumbagna, Elliott, Onana, Mputu.
Some Afcon-themed Liverpool news here, regarding Mohamed Salah’s departure from the tournament, courtesy of Andy Hunter:
Preamble
Africa Cup of Nations, Group C: what’s the vibe?
It’s simple in the sense that Senegal are already into the knockouts with two wins from two. Should Senegal avoid defeat today they will top the group. However, Guinea would nab top spot with a win, sitting as they do in second place with four points after an opening draw followed by a victory … a draw for Guinea would mean they are through, no matter what happens in the other match.
On which note, neither the Gambia nor Cameroon have given up hope of progress, in view of the fact that the four best third-placed teams will also earn a place in the round of 16.
It’s all up for grabs. Kick-off in both matches is at 5pm UK time.