Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 15 to 23 January 2024. The group consisted of defending champions Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia.
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 position Team Zone Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2023 December 2023 C1 WAFU Group L winners 28 March 2023 17th 2021 Winners (2021) 20 20 C2 UNIFFAC Group C winners 12 September 2023 21st 2021 Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) 41 46 C3 WAFU Group D runners-up 20 June 2023 14th 2021 Runners-up (1976) 81 80 C4 WAFU Group G runners-up 10 September 2023 2nd 2021 Quarter-finals (2021) 118 126 Notes
Standings
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 52nd 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 stage match in the AFCON, having gone undefeated back in 2021.
GK 16 Édouard MendyRB 22 Abdou Diallo CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)CB 26 Pape Gueye LB 19 Moussa Niakhaté RM 15 Krépin DiattaCM 25 Lamine Camara LM 14 Ismail JakobsAM 18 Ismaïla Sarr AM 10 Sadio ManéCF 20 Habib Diallo Substitutions:FW 7Nicolas Jackson MF 11Pathé Ciss FW 13Iliman Ndiaye MF 6Nampalys Mendy DF 4Abdoulaye Seck Manager:Aliou Cissé GK 18Baboucarr GayeRB 17Saidy JankoCB 12James GomezCB 5 Omar Colley (c)LB 13Ibou Touray DM 24Ebrima Darboe CM 8 Ebou Adams CM 16Alasana Manneh RW 20Yankuba Minteh LW 10Musa BarrowCF 26Ali Sowe Substitutions:MF 2Hamza Barry FW 23Muhammed Badamosi FW 7Alieu Fadera FW 11Abdoulie Sanyang FW 9Assan Ceesay Manager: 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 referee: 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.
GK 1 Fabrice OndoaCB 21Jean-Charles CastellettoCB 2 Harold Moukoudi CB 4 Christopher Wooh RM 11Georges-Kévin NkoudouCM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)CM 6 Olivier Kemen LM 18Darlin YongwaAM 22Olivier NtchamCF 9 Frank Magri CF 12Karl Toko EkambiSubstitutions:DF 15Oumar Gonzalez DF 14Junior Tchamadeu FW 19Faris Moumbagna Manager:Rigobert Song GK 22Ibrahim KonéRB 2 Antoine Conte CB 17Julian JeanvierCB 5 Mouctar Diakhaby LB 21Sekou SyllaCM 10Ilaix MoribaCM 20Mory Konaté RW 7 Morgan Guilavogui AM 18Aguibou CamaraLW 19François Kamano (c) CF 11Mohamed Bayo Substitutions:FW 25Facinet Conte DF 12Ibrahim Diakité FW 24José Kanté DF 3 Issiaga Sylla Manager: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 referee: 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.
GK 16Édouard MendyRB 15Krépin DiattaCB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)CB 22Abdou Diallo LB 14Ismail JakobsDM 26Pape GueyeCM 25Lamine Camara CM 17Pape Matar Sarr RW 18Ismaïla Sarr LW 10Sadio ManéCF 20Habib Diallo Substitutions:MF 5 Idrissa Gueye FW 7 Nicolas Jackson FW 13Iliman Ndiaye MF 11Pathé Ciss Manager:Aliou Cissé GK 24André OnanaRB 26Enzo Tchato CB 21Jean-Charles Castelletto CB 4 Christopher WoohLB 5 Nouhou ToloDM 17Yvan Neyou CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)CM 6 Olivier Kemen RW 11Georges-Kévin NkoudouLW 3 Moumi Ngamaleu CF 9 Frank MagriSubstitutions:FW 19Faris Moumbagna MF 22Olivier Ntcham DF 14Junior Tchamadeu Manager:Rigobert Song
Man of the Match: Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal)
Assistant referees: Ibrahim Mohammed Abdallah (Sudan) Diana Chikotesha (Zambia) Fourth official: Omar Artan (Somalia) Video assistant referee: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referee: 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.
GK 22Ibrahim KonéRB 12Ibrahim Diakité CB 17Julian Jeanvier CB 5 Mouctar DiakhabyLB 3 Issiaga Sylla (c) CM 10Ilaix Moriba CM 23Abdoulaye TouréRW 7 Morgan Guilavogui AM 18Aguibou CamaraLW 21Sekou Sylla CF 11Mohamed Bayo Substitutions:MF 8 Naby Keïta FW 25Facinet Conte DF 2 Antoine Conte MF 6 Amadou Diawara FW 24José Kanté Manager:Kaba Diawara GK 18Baboucarr GayeCB 12James GomezCB 14Noah Sonko Sundberg CB 5 Omar Colley (c)RWB 17Saidy JankoLWB 15Jacob MendyCM 19Ebrima Colley CM 24Ebrima Darboe CM 10Musa Barrow CF 3 Ablie JallowCF 7 Alieu Fadera Substitutions:MF 2 Hamza Barry FW 20Yankuba Minteh FW 23Muhammed Badamosi FW 26Ali Sowe Manager: 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 referee: 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.
GK 22Ibrahim KonéRB 2 Antoine Conte CB 4 Saidou SowCB 13Mohamed Ali CamaraLB 3 Issiaga SyllaDM 6 Amadou DiawaraRM 10Ilaix Moriba LM 8 Naby Keïta (c) AM 18Aguibou CamaraCF 25Facinet Conte CF 9 Serhou Guirassy Substitutions:FW 11Mohamed Bayo FW 7 Morgan Guilavogui DF 12Ibrahim Diakité MF 15Seydouba Cissé MF 14Karim Cissé Manager:Kaba Diawara GK 16Édouard MendyRB 15Krépin Diatta CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c)CB 4 Abdoulaye SeckLB 14Ismail Jakobs DM 26Pape Gueye DM 6 Nampalys MendyCM 17Pape Matar Sarr RF 18Ismaïla Sarr CF 20Habib Diallo LF 10Sadio ManéSubstitutions:MF 5 Idrissa Gueye MF 8 Cheikhou Kouyaté FW 13Iliman Ndiaye DF 12Fodé Ballo-Touré FW 7 Nicolas Jackson Manager: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 referee: 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.
This result meant Gambia failed to advance past the group stage of an AFCON for the first time, and lost all three group stage games.
GK 18Baboucarr GayeRB 21Muhammed Sanneh CB 12James GomezCB 5 Omar Colley (c) LB 15Jacob MendyRM 20Yankuba MintehCM 27Yusupha Bobb CM 16Alasana MannehLM 10Musa BarrowSS 3 Ablie Jallow CF 26Ali Sowe Substitutions:DF 25Bubacarr Sanneh FW 7 Alieu Fadera FW 9 Assan Ceesay FW 19Ebrima Colley Manager: Tom Saintfiet GK 1 Fabrice OndoaRB 26Enzo TchatoCB 21Jean-Charles CastellettoCB 4 Christopher WoohLB 5 Nouhou ToloCM 11Georges-Kévin Nkoudou CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)CM 18Darlin Yongwa AM 22Olivier NtchamCF 9 Frank Magri CF 12Karl Toko EkambiSubstitutions:FW 19Faris Moumbagna MF 6 Olivier Kemen DF 2 Harold Moukoudi Manager: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 referee: 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
References
External links