Cameroon in turn suffered the harsh law of the big names at the start of the African Cup by conceding a draw against Guinea (1-1) despite its numerical superiority for a half, Monday in Yamoussoukro. The “Indomitable Lions” let Senegal, favorite who took charge by beating Gambia (3-0), take the reins of Group C while awaiting the Cameroon-Senegal clash on Friday. The “Indomitable Lions” however dominated, especially after the exclusion of “Syli National” captain François Kamano just before the break.
But they could only respond with Franck Magri (51) to an initial goal from Mohamed Bayo (10), where the Cameroonians trapped themselves. On a dribble that was too daring in front of his area, Olivier Kemen was dispossessed of the ball by the pressing, and his greed cost his team a goal, despite an initial save from Fabrice Ondoa. Starting goalkeeper André Onana was not on the scoresheet. He had exceptional authorization to play one last club match and traveled in the night from Manchester after facing Tottenham with United (2-2). Vincent Aboubakar, the striker and captain, was ultimately not in the game either, injured.
After this first goal, Cameroon put its foot on the ball, and its domination became even clearer in the second half in numerical superiority. Because like three hours earlier at almost the same place for Senegal-Gambia, a yellow was transformed into red by the VAR just before the break. After the Gambian Ebrima Adams, lightning fell on Kamano, collapsed, for a sole on Franck Magri in the center of the field. Libyan referee Ibrahim Mutaz opted for exclusion after watching the action (45 3).
Reduced to ten, Kaba Diawara’s Guinea ended up giving in on a header from Toulouse Magri, on a cross from Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (51st). But she avoided defeat, supported by a well-filled stadium, three-fifths of which were largely Guinean, with the cry of “Gbin Gbin So!”, which describes in the Soussou language the arrival of the sound of the elephant, the symbol of the team (Syli means elephant). The public also sometimes jeered at the Cameroonians when they advanced towards Ibrahim Koné’s goal, and ended with a sigh of relief after a match point for Karl Toko Ekambi saved by Koné (88th).
