- As Teranga Lions roar to knockout stage
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Cameroon Head Coach, Rigobert Song has acknowledged the AFCON defending champions, Teranga Lions of Senegalese as a superior side following Cameroon’s 3-1 defeat at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire 2023
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Song took responsibility for the Indomitable Lions’ poor showing even as he admitted that the Senegalese were the better team on the night
According to the ex-international; “When there is a defeat, we must bear responsibility, and therefore we must admit that Senegal was better than us in the match”, adding that his young players will need experience to show up strong in such occasions.
“Senegal was stronger than us. Their players were in their places on the field. They deserved their victory. For our part, we have young players in the national team, and they are at the beginning of their experience”, Song further said.
However, reflecting on what went wrong with the Indomitable Lions against the Senegalese, Song, a commanding performer in the central defence during his playing days, explained thus; “What did not go well? I think that the players did everything they could during the match, and small details made the difference in the match. We admit that the competitor was better than us”.
Despite drawing the first game against Guinea and losing to Senegal in the second match on Friday to pick up only one point heading into the third game, Coach Song remains optimistic about leading the Indomitable Lions to the second round of the continental tournament.
“I am always optimistic. As long as there is a final match, there are no calculations to make. The next match will be a final for us, and I know that we will qualify for the second round”, he said
Senegal Triumph In Battle Of The Lions
Senegal confirmed their title defence resolve in the current Africa Cup of Nations tournament by taking Cameroon to the cleaners in their Group C encounter decided inside the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Friday night.
Living up to its pre-match billing as a big night for the two Lions, Senegal’s Teranga Lions took an early lead through 25-year-old Ismaila Sarr who gleefully pounced on a teasing shot’s rebound to score the opening goal against the Indomitable Lions.
Controlling the second half as they did in the first half, Senegal doubled their lead as Sarr turned the producer this time after sending a perfect pass to Habib Dailo who made no mistake to slot the ball past Cameroonian Keeper Andre Onana
Jean Charles Castelleto gave Cameroon hope in the 83rd minute when he towered above the Senegalese defenders to head home a cross from Oliver Ntchamto. With the proceedings at 2-1, the Indomitable Lions mounted pressure for an equalizer.
However, with just two minutes remaining, former African Player of the Year, Sadio Mane made no mistake after being located with a Pape Gueye pass. In scoring Senegal’s third, Mane also got his first goal of the tournament.
With six points from two games, the Senegalese have qualified for the knockout stage and will play against Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday, January 23 while Cameroon must win their final match against Gambia on the same day to progress to the next round.
