AFCON 2023 : Tough challenge awaits Senegal in the round of 16

The national team of Senegal has crossed the group stage hurdle, ensuring qualification with a victory over Cameroon (3-1) this Friday. Now, their likely opponents are taking shape before them.

Senegal kicks off the 2023 AFCON in full force, and it won’t be the Cameroonians who will contradict that. This Friday, the “Indomitable Lions” fell to the defending champions. Since the 1990 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegalese had not managed to defeat Cameroon. However, this trend was finally reversed in the 2023 AFCON, with a well-deserved victory.

Senegal Dominates Cameroon

Ismaïla Sarr, who had been the decisive assist provider in the first match against Guinea (3-0), turned into a goal-scorer against the Indomitable Lions. His shot, deflected by Captain André-Franck Zambo Anguissa, found its way into the net in the 16th minute. The Cameroonian’s good intentions were dampened in the second half when the African champions scored a second goal. Ismaïla Sarr sent in a tight cross from the right side of the box, out of reach for everyone except Habib Diallo, who tackled it into the net in the 71st minute.

However, Cameroonian pride remained dangerous, as both teams had warned before this high-profile encounter. Jean-Christophe Castelleto reminded everyone by narrowing the gap with an impeccable header in the 83rd minute, receiving a perfect cross from substitute Olivier Ntcham. In the tense final minutes, Rigobert Song’s men had the opportunity to equalize to 2-2. However, football is sometimes decided by small margins, as evidenced by Georges-Kévin Nkoudou’s close-range header, which failed by a few centimeters from the Senegalese post.

A few moments later, a Senegalese counter sealed Cameroon’s fate, with a shot from Sadio Mané out of reach for Onana in the 90+5th minute. This goal was a deliverance for all of Senegal. With six points out of six and six goals scored, the Lions have a perfect record, claiming the provisional title of the best attack in this AFCON. They head towards the Round of 16.

And there, it will be tough for Senegal in the Round of 16. The “Lions of Teranga,” placed in Group C, will find their opponent in Group A. Currently, Aliou Cissé’s men have enormous chances of finishing first in their group.

Potential Opponent for Senegal in the Round of 16?

A draw would be enough, thanks to Guinea next Tuesday, to secure the first place. In this case, the “Lions of Senegal will go on to play the best third-placed team from Group A. Currently, in this group, three teams could finish third. With 4 points each, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are respectively first and second. Ivory Coast follows just behind with 3 points. Thus, the results of the 3rd matchday will determine things for Senegal.

Moreover, if the “Lions of Teranga” lose to Guinea, it will be a different story. Then, Aliou Cissé’s men will finish second and play against the second-placed team from Group A. Again, it is highly likely to be Ivory Coast. In case of combined victories for Ivory Coast and Nigeria, the Ivorians finish second (having been defeated by Nigeria) and will play against Senegal. If, on the other hand, Equatorial Guinea beats Ivory Coast, we will have a group without a better third-placed team, especially if Guinea-Bissau beats Nigeria.

In this scenario, Senegal will play against Equatorial Guinea in the Round of 16 if the “Lions of Teranga” finish second and Nigeria, if they finish first. In any case, for Senegal, it will be either a heavyweight opponent in the Round of 16.