Senegal went top of Group B of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship following a hard fought 1-0 victory over Cote D’Ivoire on Saturday, 14 January at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba.
Substitute Moussa Ndiaye socred the only goal of the game to ensure all three points for the Teranga Lions in what was a tightly contested affair from the two West African Nations.
Senegal wasted no time in putting Cote D’Ivoire under pressure from the opening whistle but found a resolute Cote D’Ivoire defence who stood firm against the series of attacks.
The Teranga Lions could have taken the lead as early as the 5th minute after Elimane Cisse did well to thread through a delightful ball to Cheikh Diouf, who failed to get the ball under his control with just the keeper to beat.
Minutes later, Souleymane Coulibaly had to come to The Elephants’ rescue again after the troublesome Cisse sent an appetising cross that almost found its way to Diouf before the attack was thwarted by the lanky defender’s well-timed clearance.
Senegal continued to dominate their opponents, with Cote D’Ivoire seeing very little of the ball but couldn’t do much to hurt their opponents in the final third.
Moussa Kante had the best chance of the half in the 38th minute after Ousmane Kane’s cross found the striker unmarked for him to send a tame effort at goal, which was easily gathered by goalkeeper, Ayayi Folly.
The Senegalese keeper Pape Sy was eventually called into action towards the closing stages of the first half after a stinging shot from outside the danger area by Sankara Karamoko had to be fisted away, only for the ball to fall in the path of Abdramane Konate, who’s well taken strike came off the upright to the relief of the Teranga Lions.
The Elephants came back a much improved side in the second half, launching more attacks from the flanks and through the middle.
Their dominance was almost short lived after conceding a penalty in the 70th minute from a handball by Aziz Abdoul who was relieved to see Ayayi Folly guessing the right direction to save Lamine Camara’s spot kick.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 73rd minute after Camara’s well taken free kick from the edge of the box rebounded off the woodwork to graciously land in the path of substitute, Moussa Ndiaye who comfortably slotted home in a goal that had to be reviewed by VAR.
The result meant Senegal top the group with three points ahead of DR Congo and Uganda who both have a point following their 0-0 stalemate earlier, while Cote D’Ivoire find themselves at the bottom of the group.
