Senegal fail to sparkle again in barren draw with Guinea
Pre-tournament
favourites Senegal failed to impress again as they were held to a 0-0 draw by
Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, with the result all but ensuring
both teams' progress to the knockout stages.
Senegal,
heavily impacted by COVID-19 infections, share top spot in Group B on four
points with West African rivals Guinea after both teams won their respective
opening games on Monday.
With the
top two in each group, plus the four best third-placed finishers to advance,
four points are expected to be enough for a place in the last 16.
Senegal,
however, have done little to live up to their tag as the team to beat at the
tournament as they feel the impact of 10 absentees.
Senegal
captain Sadio Mane had a chance from a close-range free kick early in the game
at the Kouekong Stadium, but struck the wall with his effort.
He was
largely overshadowed in the opening half by his Liverpool team mate Naby Keita,
who drove his Guinea team forward on frequent occasions with probing runs at
the opposing defence.
It was
Keita’s clever through ball that split the Senegal defence and set two Guinea
strikers free on goal. Yet Ilaix Moriba had his initial effort saved by Seny
Dieng and then Morgan Guilavogui botched the rebound.
Senegal
were a much improved outfit after the break and Bouna Sarr’s searching
52nd-minute free kick was close to delivering the first goal, needing just a
touch to guide it in.
Four
minutes later centre back Abdou Diallo powered a header just over the crossbar
from a free kick and in the 67th minute Mane’s run straight down the middle
from the centre circle set up Sarr with a golden chance but he snatched the
ball wide.
Senegal’s
10 missing players, all out because of COVID-19 infections, included captain
Kalidou Koulibaly and first choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who also missed
their opening game on Monday, as well as Idrissa Gana Gueye and Fode Ballo
Toure, who tested positive following the narrow 1-0 win over Zimbabwe in their
opening match.
"It's
been very difficult for us with all of these missing players," Senegal coach
Aliou Cisse said.
Guinea had
four players missing, who were in quarantine after testing positive.
Malawi and
Zimbabwe, who both lost on Monday, play the second Group B game in Bafoussam
later on Friday.
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