Senegal, Guinea Settle for draw in second outing

Teranga Lions of Senegal and Syli Nationale of Guinea settled for a goalless draw in their second match of ongoing Nations Cup on Friday to be at per with four points.  Both teams had win their first match by narrow margin and played out full 90 minutes with no goals to show for their efforts  at the Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam.

Guinea had opened the campaign with a 1-0 win over Malawi while Teranga Lions had to wait until late in the game to win against Zimbabwe through a penalty.

Sily Nationale almost grabbed an opener in the second minute when Naby Keita’s corner ball went across the goalmouth untouched as Mohamed Bayo failed to apply the last touch to tap the free-rolling ball home.

Another chance for the Guinean side to break the deadlock came in the fourth minute when they won a set-piece, but Ibrahima Konte’s free header from Morgan Guilavogui’s free-kick went wide as Senegal looked disjointed in the opening minutes.

Teranga Lions grew into the game, pressed their West African rivals and won a free-kick just outside the box when Sadio Mane was brought down, but Bouna Sarr’s delivery hit the wall before Guinea hastily cleared the danger from their area in the 14th minute.

Keita had to be attended to by the medics in the 20th minute after he collided with Pape Cisse while tussling for an aerial ball that was put into the box by Issiaga Sylla.

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Senegal have  Seny Dieng to thank for superb save in the 31st minute to deny Guinea a very open chance that could have ended up breaking the deadlock. Dieng dived to his left-hand side and managed to parry away a low drive by Guilavogui after Guinea’s quick counter-attack along the left wing.

Keita earned a  yellow card just after the hour mark when  he brought down his Liverpool teammate Mane, who was on a run towards goal. Konte conceded a corner when he attempted to clear Sarr’s free-kick but Senegal could not get much from the short corner taken. Despite the draw both teams stand better chance of progressing from the group but will have to work hard in their last group match to avoid last minute story that touch.