YAMOUSSOUKRO: Senegal defeated Guinea 2-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, completing the group stage with three victories out of three, while their opponents advanced to the last 16 despite the loss.
Before this final Group C encounter in Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro, the Lions of Teranga had already qualified for the knockout phase, and Maccabi Haifa defender Abdoulaye Seck came into the starting lineup to head in the opener from a free kick shortly after the hour mark.
Marseille’s Iliman Ndiaye then came off the bench to make it 2-0 in the 90th minute, ensuring Senegal’s status as the only team to finish with nine points out of nine in the group stage.
They will stay in Yamoussoukro for a last-16 match next Monday against one of the best third-placed teams, and there is a fair probability they will face hosts Ivory Coast, who are still in contention to qualify despite finishing third in Group A.
Cameroon’s incredible comeback to overcome Gambia 3-2 in the other Group C game in Bouake demoted Guinea to third place in terms of goals scored, but the Syli National are already certain they would be among the top third-place finishers.
They were also bolstered by the return of Serhou Guirassy, who has been in prolific form in the German Bundesliga this season with VfB Stuttgart, after missing the first two group matches.
