Defending champions Senegal grew to become the second qualifier for the spherical of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations when Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo and Sadio Mane scored in a 3-1 win over Cameroon on Friday.
A couple of hours earlier, Cape Verde grew to become the primary nation to safe a spot within the final 16 by beating Mozambique 3-0 in Abidjan.
Sarr scored within the first half and Diallo and Mane within the second in Yamoussoukro, giving the title holders a most of six factors after two video games in Group C. The losers have just one.
Jean-Charles Castelletto scored late within the second half to halve the deficit to 2-1, however Senegal weren’t denied a convincing victory and Mane put the result past doubt.
Guinea will tackle Gambia later within the second match of a double-header and a win would take them three factors above Cameroon with only one spherical remaining.
Cameroon recalled Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who missed a draw in opposition to Guinea after arriving late in West Africa, however late defending contributed to the objectives he conceded.
Senegal kicked off with 5 of the crew that began the 2022 ultimate in opposition to Egypt in Yaounde, which they gained in a penalty shootout, with Mane scoring the decisive penalty.
Cameroon needed to do it once more with out star striker Vincent Aboubakar as he had not recovered from a thigh harm that dominated him out of a draw in opposition to Guinea 4 days in the past.
Sarr responds rapidly
Extra adventurous from kick-off within the central Ivorian metropolis, Senegal took the lead after 16 minutes by way of the quick-reacting Sarr.
After Cameroon twice did not clear a nook, Sarr was the penalty space and his low shot was deflected off Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa earlier than ending up within the nook of the web.
Frank Magri, the Cameroonian goalscorer in opposition to Guinea, had a half-chance simply earlier than the half-hour mark however was overwhelmed right into a free ball by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
A couple of minutes later, the Sudanese referee stopped play for a welcome water break in a temperature of 34 levels Celsius because the match began.
Enzo Tchato saved Cameroon as half-time approached, beautifully blocking a shot on the right track from two-time African Participant of the Yr Mane.
A tense first half ended with only one shot on the right track – the purpose – from three makes an attempt from every crew.
Senegal elevated their lead after 71 minutes with a purpose that got here from persistence round Cameroon's penalty space.
A sequence of brief passes culminated in Sarr delivering a low cross and the unmarked Diallo pushing the ball into the web from shut vary.
Castelletto struck after 83 minutes, denying former Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy an opportunity with a close-range header, however hopes of a draw had been dashed by Mane in added time.
