2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group C explained

Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 15 to 23 January 2024.[1] The group consisted of defending champions Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia.[2]

Senegal and Cameroon as the top two teams, along with Guinea as one of the four best third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

Draw positionTeamZoneMethod of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2023December 2023
C1 style=white-space:nowrap data-sort-value="C1" Group L winners data-sort-value="5" 28 March 2023 17th data-sort-value="3.1" Winners (2021) 20 20
C2 style=white-space:nowrap data-sort-value="C2" Group C winners data-sort-value="23" 12 September 2023 21st data-sort-value="3.2" Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) 41 46
C3 style=white-space:nowrap data-sort-value="C3" Group D runners-up data-sort-value="15" 20 June 2023 14th data-sort-value="3.3" Runners-up (1976) 81 80
C4 style=white-space:nowrap data-sort-value="C4" Group G runners-up data-sort-value="22" 10 September 2023 2nd data-sort-value="3.4" Quarter-finals (2021) 118 126
Notes

Matches

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

Senegal vs Gambia

It was the first fixture between the two rivalling Senegambian nations in AFCON history, and their first competitive meeting since the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, where they played out two draws.

Senegal got off to a perfect start as a ball by Sadio Mané found Pape Gueye, who found the bottom corner. Things got better for the Senegalese when Ebou Adams' reckless tackle on Lamine Camara resulted in his dismissal. With his team having the numerical advantage, Camara raced onto Ismaïla Sarr’s through-ball and slotted a neat finish into the far corner in the 52th minute. Late on, Camara scored a second time with a spectacular strike into the top corner, assisted by Iliman Ndiaye.

This was the first time Gambia lost a group stages match in the AFCON, having gone undefeated back in 2021.

width=25!width=25
GK 16 Édouard Mendy
RB 22
CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)
CB 26
LB 19
RM 15 Krépin Diatta
CM 25
LM 14 Ismail Jakobs
AM 18
AM 10 Sadio Mané
CF 20
Substitutions:
FW 7
MF 11
FW 13
MF 6
DF 4
Coach:
Aliou Cissé
width=25!width=25
GK 18Baboucarr Gaye
RB 17Saidy Janko
CB 12James Gomez
CB 5 Omar Colley (c)
LB 13
DM 24
CM 8
CM 16
RW 20
LW 10Musa Barrow
CF 26
Substitutions:
MF 2
FW 23
FW 7
FW 11
FW 9
Coach:
Tom Saintfiet
Man of the Match:
Lamine Camara (Senegal)

Assistant referees


Lahcen Azgaou (Morocco)
Mustapha Akerkad (Morocco)
Fourth official


Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
Video assistant referee


Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
Assistant video assistant referees


Ibrahim Mohammed Abdallah (Sudan)

Cameroon vs Guinea

Guinea pressed Cameroon early on and were rewarded when Mohamed Bayo scored; his first shot failed to find the net but he took his next opportunity after the Cameroonians' sloppy efforts to clear. However, a reckless challenge by François Kamano on Frank Magri at the end of the first half resulted in Kamano's dismissal. Cameroon capitalised from this when Magri scored with a header thanks to a clinical delivery from Georges-Kévin Nkoudou. However, Cameroon could not press home their numerical advantage over Guinea and had to settle for a draw.

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GK 1 Fabrice Ondoa
CB 21Jean-Charles Castelletto
CB 2
CB 4
RM 11Georges-Kévin Nkoudou
CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)
CM 6
LM 18Darlin Yongwa
AM 22Olivier Ntcham
CF 9
CF 12Karl Toko Ekambi
Substitutions:
DF 15
DF 14
FW 19
Coach:
Rigobert Song
width=25!width=25
GK 22Ibrahim Koné
RB 2
CB 17Julian Jeanvier
CB 5
LB 21Sekou Sylla
CM 10Ilaix Moriba
CM 20
RW 7
AM 18Aguibou Camara
LW 19François Kamano (c)
CF 11
Substitutions:
FW 25
DF 12
FW 24
DF 3
Coach:
Kaba Diawara
Man of the Match:
Mohamed Bayo (Guinea)

Assistant referees


Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)
Attia Amsaaed (Libya)
Fourth official


Youcef Gamouh (Algeria)
Video assistant referee


Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
Assistant video assistant referees


Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt)

Senegal vs Cameroon

It was their first AFCON encounter since the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, where Cameroon knocked out Senegal on penalties.

The battle between the two African titans started in Senegal's favour when Ismaïla Sarr struck via a hefty deflection following the Cameroonians' failure to clear Lamine Camara's corner in the 16th minute. Habib Diallo then slid home Sarr’s delivery from the right with Senegal’s first attempt on goal in the second half, in the 71st minute. Jean-Charles Castelletto halved the deficit with a brilliant header from a cross by Olivier Ntcham, but Sadio Mané killed any hope for a Cameroonian comeback with a goal in the fifth minute of added time to secure Senegal's win.

width=25!width=25
GK 16Édouard Mendy
RB 15Krépin Diatta
CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)
CB 22
LB 14Ismail Jakobs
DM 26Pape Gueye
CM 25
CM 17
RW 18
LW 10Sadio Mané
CF 20
Substitutions:
MF 5
FW 7
FW 13
MF 11
Coach:
Aliou Cissé
width=25!width=25
GK 24André Onana
RB 26
CB 21
CB 4 Christopher Wooh
LB 5 Nouhou Tolo
DM 17
CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)
CM 6
RW 11Georges-Kévin Nkoudou
LW 3
CF 9 Frank Magri
Substitutions:
FW 19
MF 22
DF 14
Coach:
Rigobert Song
Man of the Match:
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal)

Assistant referees


Ibrahim Mohammed Abdallah (Sudan)
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
Fourth official


Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
Video assistant referee


Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
Assistant video assistant referees


Maria Rivet (Mauritius)

Guinea vs Gambia

Guinea and Gambia had faced each other in a competitive AFCON once, back in 2021 when Gambia shocked Guinea with a 1–0 win.

The game was tense as Guinea proved more dominant than Gambia, but there were no goals until the 69th minute, when Aguibou Camara stretched to convert from Morgan Guilavogui's clever cut-back to win the match as Guinea avenged their 2021 loss by the same scoreline.

width=25!width=25
GK 22Ibrahim Koné
RB 12
CB 17
CB 5 Mouctar Diakhaby
LB 3 Issiaga Sylla (c)
CM 10
CM 23Abdoulaye Touré
RW 7
AM 18Aguibou Camara
LW 21
CF 11
Substitutions:
MF 8
FW 25
DF 2
MF 6
FW 24
Coach:
Kaba Diawara
width=25!width=25
GK 18Baboucarr Gaye
CB 12James Gomez
CB 14
CB 5 Omar Colley (c)
RWB 17Saidy Janko
LWB 15Jacob Mendy
CM 19
CM 24
CM 10
CF 3 Ablie Jallow
CF 7
Substitutions:
MF 2
FW 20
FW 23
FW 26
Coach:
Tom Saintfiet
Man of the Match:
Aguibou Camara (Guinea)

Assistant referees


Arsénio Marengula (Mozambique)
Danek Moutsassi (Congo)
Fourth official


Kalilou Traoré (Ivory Coast)
Video assistant referee


Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Assistant video assistant referees


Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

Guinea vs Senegal

This was their first meeting since facing each other at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which ended in a goalless draw.

Guinea and Senegal looked set for another stalemate until the 61st minute when Krépin Diatta's free-kick delivery was met by Abdoulaye Seck and his header gave Senegal the lead. Iliman Ndiaye then confirmed the win for Senegal with a clinical finish in the 90th minute.

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GK 22Ibrahim Koné
RB 2
CB 4 Saidou Sow
CB 13Mohamed Ali Camara
LB 3 Issiaga Sylla
DM 6 Amadou Diawara
RM 10
LM 8 Naby Keïta (c)
AM 18Aguibou Camara
CF 25
CF 9
Substitutions:
FW 11
FW 7
DF 12
MF 15
MF 14
Coach:
Kaba Diawara
width=25!width=25
GK 16Édouard Mendy
RB 15
CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)
CB 4 Abdoulaye Seck
LB 14
DM 26
DM 6 Nampalys Mendy
CM 17
RF 18
CF 20
LF 10Sadio Mané
Substitutions:
MF 5
MF 8
FW 13
DF 12
FW 7
Coach:
Aliou Cissé
Man of the Match:
Abdoulaye Seck (Senegal)

Assistant referees


Seydou Tiama (Burkina Faso)
Abelmiro dos Reis (São Tomé and Príncipe)
Fourth official


Mohamed Maarouf (Egypt)
Video assistant referee


Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Assistant video assistant referees


Mahmoud Abou El-Regal (Egypt)

Gambia vs Cameroon

This was their second meeting in AFCON history, after the previous one in 2021 ended with a Cameroonian victory.

After a goalless first half, the second half was filled with action. First, Karl Toko Ekambi, assisted by Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, got the first goal with a header. However, Ablie Jallow then scored Gambia's first goal in this AFCON, latching onto an inch-perfect cross and drilling home to equalise in the 72nd minute. Ebrima Colley then sent a strong shot into the far corner to put Gambia on course for a win in the 85th minute. However, James Gomez's clumsy effort to clear out ended up as an own goal to equalise for Cameroon just two minutes later, before the final drama arrived in the first minute of extra time when from a corner kick, Christopher Wooh scored a brilliant header to turn the game around. Muhammed Sanneh looked to have equalised for Gambia in the third minute of extra time after yet another brilliant corner, but his effort was ruled out by VAR for handball as Cameroon held firm to win.[3]

This result meant Gambia failed to advance past the group stages of an AFCON for the first time, and lost all three group stage games.

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GK 18Baboucarr Gaye
RB 21
CB 12James Gomez
CB 5 Omar Colley (c)
LB 15Jacob Mendy
RM 20Yankuba Minteh
CM 27
CM 16Alasana Manneh
LM 10Musa Barrow
SS 3
CF 26
Substitutions:
DF 25
FW 7
FW 9
FW 19
Coach:
Tom Saintfiet
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Fabrice Ondoa
RB 26Enzo Tchato
CB 21Jean-Charles Castelletto
CB 4 Christopher Wooh
LB 5 Nouhou Tolo
CM 11
CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)
CM 18
AM 22Olivier Ntcham
CF 9
CF 12Karl Toko Ekambi
Substitutions:
FW 19
MF 6
DF 2
Coach:
Rigobert Song
Man of the Match:
Christopher Wooh (Cameroon)

Assistant referees


Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)
Ivanildo Lopes (Angola)
Fourth official


Youcef Gamouh (Algeria)
Video assistant referee


Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Assistant video assistant referees


Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

TeamMatch 1Match 2Match 3Points
2 1 2 –5
2 3 –5
1 1 2 2 –8
1 2 3 –8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FULL LIST: 2023 AFCON group draw. Damilola. Olufemi. 12 October 2023. The Punch.
  2. News: WATCH LIVE: TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Official Draw. 10 December 2023. Confederation of African Football.
  3. Web site: Gambia 2 Cameroon 3. 23 January 2024. BBC Sport. 24 January 2024.