Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye scored as Senegal beat Guinea 2-0 in their final group match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon's dramatic 3-2 win over The Gambia means they go through as the second-place team but Guinea will still go through as the one of the best third-place teams in the group stage. Senegal maintain a perfect record.
Senegal secured top spot in Group C at the Africa Cup of Nations following a 2-0 victory over Guinea.
The reigning champions progress to the knockout stages with a 100 per cent record after second-half goals from Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye sealed maximum points at Stade de Yamoussoukro.
Following a stop-start first half, Senegal took the lead just after the hour mark when Seck powerfully headed home from Krepin Diatta’s free-kick.
Sadio Mane, who missed an open goal earlier on, thought he had wrapped up the points when he slotted past Ibrahim Kone five minutes from time, but was denied by the offside flag.
However, Aliou Cisse’s side did get their second goal in the dying moments following a devastating counter, with Mane finding Ndiaye in acres of space and the substitute sweeping home.
With that, Senegal sealed first place in Group C ahead of Cameroon, who snatched second place from Guinea following their dramatic 3-2 victory over Gambia.
TALKING POINT - 100 PER CENT SENEGAL
Not since Egypt won three in a row between 2006 and 2010 have the reigning champions successfully defended their Africa Cup of Nations crown.
Although, 2021 winners Senegal have made a real statement of intent so far, collecting maximum points in a group stage for the first time.
Aliou Cisse’s side have now scored eight goals in three matches, a tally only bettered by Equatorial Guinea (nine) in this year’s tournament.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - ABDOULAYE SECK
Seck played a crucial role at both ends of the field as his side took all three points and extended their unbeaten streak at the tournament to 10 matches.
The defender nodded Senegal in front with a bullet of a header, while he kept Guinea at bay by winning seven of the game-high eight aerial duels he contested and no player registered more touches (68) during the contest.
PLAYER RATINGS
Guinea: Kone 5; A. Conte 5, Mohamed Ali Camara 6, Sow 5, Sylla 5; Moriba 5, Diawara 6; A. Camara 6, N. Keita 7, F. Conte 6; Guirassy 5. Subs: Diakite 5, S. Cisse 5, Bayo 5, K. Cisse 5, Guilavogui 6.
Senegal: E. Mendy 7; Diatta 8, Seck 8*, Koulibaly 7, Jakobs 7; P. Sarr 6, P. Gueye 7, N. Mendy 7; I. Sarr 7, Diallo 6, Mane 7. Subs: Ballo-Toure 5, Kouyate 5, I. Gueye 6, Jackson 5, Ndiaye 7.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
57’ – MANE MISSES: Pouncing on sloppy play from Guinea near the halfway line, Mane is steals possession and bears down on goal. He rounds Kone, who had raced out of his box, but cannot slot the ball home from a tight angle. There are gasps of disbelief inside the stadium.
61’ – GOAL! GUINEA 0-1 SENEGAL (SECK): Diatta, who has been lively today, swings the ball into the box from the right wing. Seck ghosts into the six-yard box to meet it and power his header past Kone.
85’ – OFFSIDE, NO GOAL: Senegal briefly think they have put the game to bed as Mane latches onto a through ball, and pokes it past Kone. However, the offside flag is subsequently raised to deny him.
90’ – GOAL! GUINEA 0-2 SENEGAL (NDIAYE): It is a devastating counter attack by Senegal, who win possession back through Idrissa Gueye. Mane then drives forward before feeding Ndiaye, who has acres of space down the right to run into, before sliding past Kone."
- Jonathan Davies
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