Senegal 3-0 Gambia: summary, score, goals, highlights | AFCON 2023
Senegal - Gambia: as it happened
The full time whistle sounds and Senegal start their title defence with a win.
An uncomplicated win over a Gambia side who were forced to play a full half with just ten men.
A discreet performance from Sadio Mane with the hero for the Lions for Teranga being Lamine Camara.
Next up a intriguing Senegal vs Cameroon clash which could decide the outcome of Group C.
Camara carded which is a blot on the copybook of the young player after his double today.
Clock ticking down and the Senegal fans behind the goal still generating plenty of noise.
Senegal did look good today but the red card handed out to Adams late into the first half has been a key conditioning factor.
Into added time in Yamoussoukro and we'll have six minutes of stoppage time.
Camara makes it three after excellent work from Ndiaye.
The Lions of Teranga roar again and that was the best of the three.
Pape Gueye off with Nampalys Mendy on for Senegal
Yankuba Mintehoff and Abdoulie Sanyang Bamba his replacement (Gambia)
Ebrima Darboe leaves the game with Assan Ceesay on (Gambia)
The tempo of the game has dropped off totally as Gambia know it's not to be tonight.
Senegal have looked in control from the early minutes after they took the lead in the fourth minute.
More changes for Senegal
Moussa Niakhaté off and the Forest player is replaced by Seck
Players really feeling the heat now as a Gambian man pulls up with cramp.
Into the final ten minutes and a third Senegal goal looks more likely rather than Gambia pulling one back.
Water break for both teams to deal with the high temperatures in Yamoussoukro.
Gambia: Touray replaced by Fadeh
Senegal: Sarr replaced by Ndiaye
Injury concerns as Moussa Niakhaté limps from the pitch.
The Forest man seems okay to continue.
Next up for Gambia
The Scorpions take on Guinea next and will need a positive result to keep their AFCON dreams alive.
Gambia conclude their Group C action next Tuesday as they play Cameroon.
Next up for Senegal
The Lions of Teranga face Cameroon next Friday in a game which, at least on paper could decide who tops Group C.
Senegal wind up their group campaign on 23 January when they take on Guinea.
Twenty minutes left to play in Yamoussoukro.
Senegal looking more than comfortable with Gambia running short on ideas.
Spoke too soon !!
Gambia switches.
Barry and Badamosi on for Manneh and Sowe
Still no changes from the Gambia Belgian coach as we pass the 66 minute.
We pass the hour mark in Yamoussoukro and Senegal looking more than comfortable.
Colley goes close latching onto a Gambia freekick but the Besiktas man fails to secure accuracy on the effort.
Senegal switch as both Diallo's make way (Abdou and Habib)
Pathe Cisse and Nico Jackson are on
Diallo almost makes it 3-0 as he is gifted a ball from Gambia's Minteh.
A let-off for the Scorpions.
Difficult to see anyway back for Gambia with the man disadvantage.
The Scorpions need to find the net shortly to keep the contest alive but in the few chances the West Africans have carved out, Mendy has been solid in the Senegal goal.
Senegal make it 2-0 as Lamine Camara fires the ball into the corner of the net.
Great finish from the Metz player.
Excellent shot from Gambia as Barrow hits a powerful strike and it takes a reflex save from Mendy to keep the men in red at bay.
Gambia refusing to roll over despite being a man down.
10 man Gambia start the action.
The teams are back on the pitch and the second half is about to restart.
Senegal in control
An early goal from Marseille's Gueye has the Lions from Teranga in control in Yamoussoukro.
Disaster for Gambia as Adams is red carded.
A VAR check deemed that the infringement from the Cardiff player was worthy of a red and the Scorpions will now have to face the reigning champions with just ten men.
Into added time and still no way through for Gambia.
Tempo of the game dropping as the heat kicks in.
Senegal now totally dominating terms in possession with the reigning champions shading Gambia 64-36 (%).
Into the final five minutes of the half.
Gambia still looking at a way back as Senegal hold firm resolutely.
Senegal still one goal to the good as Gambia try by all means to get back on level terms.
Both sides with one shot on target a piece but the all important stat is that Pape Gueye converted his chance.
Cameroon and Guinea are the other sides in Group C and they meet later this evening with the game starting at 12pm (ET)
Despite being one goal to the good, Senegal are not having everything their way as Gambia look dangerous on their few attacks on the goal marshalled by Edouard Mendy.
Free header for Sowe as he fails to latch onto a corner and watches the ball drift wide.
Another half chance for the Scorpions.
Sowe cuts a lone figure up front for the Gambia.
The noise is wonderful coming from behind Senegal's goal where the 12 Gainde (12th Man) fan group are based.
A riot of red, green and yellow.
Possession
Senegal 57-43 (%) Gambia
Barrow it is who shoots right footed but the effort strikes the top of the Senegal net to go wide
Gambia win a free on the edge of the box as Diallo handles the ball...
Colley is over the ball along with Barrow.
Senegal move the ball around with the added calm that an early goal offers.
Incredible to think that no reigning AFCON champions has progressed past the R16 when defending their title. Surely a milestone that Senegal will be looking to break this year.
Play resumes and Adams seems okay to continue as Gambia look to try and claw back a foothold in the contest.
The Cardiff City man really feeling the impact of the challenge as the Gambia medics rush to the field to treat the player.
Diallo carded for Senegal as he clips Adams.
Senegal score....
The reigning champions hit early as Mane feeds Gueye and the Lions from Teranga stun the Gambia as the Marseille man slots home from inside the Gambia box.
Better from Senegal as they launch a series of attacks on the Gambia goal but fail to create a clear scoring chance.
Off we go and The Gambia launch an attack within the first 30 seconds.
Easy for keeper Mendy to palm away from the danger zone.
Redouane Jiyed from Morocco is today's referee.
Difficult to see a star studded Senegal side slipping up today as the Lions of Teranga begin their AFCON title defence.
National anthem time with Senegal up first followed by the Gambian anthem.
The players emerge to the pitch.
Senegal will sport an all white kit today with Gambia in red shirts, blue shorts and green socks.
All set in Yamoussoukro.
The sun beats down with a stifling 36C-97F temperature.
A spartan crowd but healthy representatives from both nations present.
Lions of Teranga vs Scorpions today
Senegal's footballer Sadio Mane / WIKUS DE WET / AFP
Mané's impressive Senegal stats
Current Al Nassr striker Sadio Mané has scored or assisted 48% of Senegal’s goals over the last three CAF Africa Cup of Nations (8 goals, 3 assists).
17 times for Senegal
Senegal are making their 17th appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They will be aiming to win back-to-back AFCON tournaments for the first time since Egypt’s three in a row from 2006 to 2010, although no AFCON defending champion has progressed further than the round of 16 in the last six editions of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
The French and Saudi leagues contribute the bulk of Senegal's starting line up today with clubs such as Monaco, Metz, Marseille, Al Hilal, Al Shabab and Al Nassr represented.
Gambia looking to repeat 2022 success
Gambia came into AFCON 2022 as the lowest ranked team in the competition and defied everyone by reaching the quarter-final stage of the competition only to be eliminated by host nation Cameroon.
Their first obstacle this year is stern opposition in the shape of reigning champions Senegal.
Senegal looking for fifth opening win
The Lions of Teranga are hoping to secure a fifth opening day AFCON win having sealed a victory in their past four opening matches.
Gambia coach, Tom Saintfiet pre-game
The 50-year-old Belgian spoke to the media ahead of the Senegal game and expressed his delight on being back at an AFCON tournament.
"We are delighted to arrive in Côte d'Ivoire for the second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations. We are well prepared for the competition, and we are ready for the start of the competition. We expect the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Côte d'Ivoire to be special and good, especially with the presence of The Gambia in Group C alongside Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon”
Countdown at the Stade Charles Konan Banny underway
All ready at the 20,000 stadium in Yamoussoukro with the city some 230 km north of Ivorian capital Abidjan.
SEN-GAM, match one of three
Today's clash between Senegal and Gambia opens Monday's action at AFCON 2023 with Cameroon-Guinea and Algeria-Angola coming up later this evening.
Senegal fans are ready
The Senegal fans around the globe are ready for their sides AFCON title defence.
Senegal are the reigning champions having beaten Egypt in the Cameroon 2002 AFCON final on a penalty shoot-out after a drab game ended 0-0.
The Senegal vs Gambia clash will be held at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro with a 9am ET start.
Hello and a warm welcome ahead of today's Group C clash at AFCON 2023 as Senegal face Gambia.