Defending champions Senegal became the second qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 after claiming a 3-1 win over Cameroon in Yamoussoukro.

A few hours before, Cape Verde beat Mozambique 3-0 in Abidjan to become the first team to secure a spot in the round of 16.

In Yamoussoukro, Sarr scored in the first half and Diallo and Mane scored in the second. This gave the defending champions a perfect six points after two Group C games. The losers only have one.

Late in the second half, Jean-Charles Castelletto scored to cut the lead in half, 2-1. But Senegal was determined to win convincingly, and Mane made it official.

Guinea plays the Gambia later in the second game of a doubleheader. If they win, they will be three points ahead of Cameroon with only one round of games left.

Cameroon called up Manchester United custodian Andre Onana, who missed a tie with Guinea because he got to west Africa late. He let in goals because of poor defence, though.

“I remember that in 2017 we lost to Cameroon in the quarter-finals, so during this match we did everything to win,” said Marseille forward Sarr.

“We were physically prepared for the match, and live as one family in the national team. This is what made us achieve the victory. We gave everything we had.”

The first game was played by five of the players who started the final against Egypt in Yaounde in 2022. Senegal won that game in a penalty shootout, with Mane scoring the winning try.

Aboubakar, Cameroon’s star forward, couldn’t play because he still hadn’t healed from the thigh injury that kept him out of the draw with Guinea four days ago.

From the start, the game in the central Ivorian city was more exciting. On 16 minutes, Sarr scored quickly to put Senegal ahead.

Cameroon missed two chances to clear a corner, so Sarr turned inside the box and fired a low shot that hit Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and into the corner of the net.

Frank Magri scored the goal for Cameroon against Guinea, but Edouard Mendy, the custodian for Senegal, beat him to a loose ball just before the half hour mark.

After a few minutes, the Sudanese referee stopped the game for a much-needed water break. It was 34 Celsius (94 Fahrenheit) when the game began.

As halftime was coming up, Enzo Tchato saved Cameroon by blocking Mane’s shot that was heading for the goal. Mane has been named African Player of the Year twice.

At the end of a close first half, each team had three shots, but only one hit the goal.

Senegal’s lead grew to two goals after 71 minutes. The goal was scored after Cameroon took too long to react.

After a series of short passes, Sarr sent in a low cross, and Diallo, who wasn’t marked, pushed the ball into the goal from close range.

Castelletto scored with a close-range header in the 83rd minute, giving former Chelsea custodian Mendy no chance. However, Mane scored in extra time, ending any hopes of a tie.

Photo by Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix