2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group C

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 position	Team	Zone	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance	FIFA Rankings
								October 2023[nb 1]	December 2023
C1	Senegal	WAFU	Group L winners	28 March 2023	17th	2021	Winners (2021)	20	20
C2	Cameroon	UNIFFAC	Group C winners	12 September 2023	21st	2021	Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)	41	46
C3	Guinea	WAFU	Group D runners-up	20 June 2023	14th	2021	Runners-up (1976)	81	80
C4	Gambia	WAFU	Group G runners-up	10 September 2023	2nd	2021	Quarter-finals (2021)	118	126

Notes

1. The rankings of October 2023 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Senegal	3	3	0	0	8	1	+7	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	Cameroon	3	1	1	1	5	6	−1	4[a]
3	Guinea	3	1	1	1	2	3	−1	4[a]
4	Gambia	3	0	0	3	2	7	−5	0

Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:

1. Tied on head-to-head points and overall goal difference. Overall goals scored: Cameroon 5, Guinea 2.

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 stages match in the AFCON, having gone undefeated back in 2021.

15 January 2024 (2024-01-15)

14:00

Senegal	3–0	Gambia
P. Gueye 4' Camara 52', 86'	Report

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Attendance: 7,896^[3]

Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)

Senegal

Gambia

GK 16 Édouard Mendy RB 22 Abdou Diallo  9'  58' CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c) CB 26 Pape Gueye  79' LB 19 Moussa Niakhaté  81' RM 15 Krépin Diatta CM 25 Lamine Camara  90+5' LM 14 Ismail Jakobs AM 18 Ismaïla Sarr  78' AM 10 Sadio Mané CF 20 Habib Diallo  58' Substitutions: FW 7 Nicolas Jackson  58' MF 11 Pathé Ciss  58' FW 13 Iliman Ndiaye  78' MF 6 Nampalys Mendy  79' DF 4 Abdoulaye Seck  81' Coach: Aliou Cissé

GK 18 Baboucarr Gaye RB 17 Saidy Janko CB 12 James Gomez CB 5 Omar Colley (c) LB 13 Ibou Touray  75' DM 24 Ebrima Darboe  83' CM 8 Ebou Adams  45+8' CM 16 Alasana Manneh  66' RW 20 Yankuba Minteh  83' LW 10 Musa Barrow CF 26 Ali Sowe  66' Substitutions: MF 2 Hamza Barry  66' FW 23 Muhammed Badamosi  66' FW 7 Alieu Fadera  75' FW 11 Abdoulie Sanyang  83' FW 9 Assan Ceesay  83' 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.

15 January 2024 (2024-01-15)

17:00

Cameroon	1–1	Guinea
Magri 51'	Report	Bayo 10'

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Attendance: 11,271^[4]

Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)

Cameroon

Guinea

GK 1 Fabrice Ondoa CB 21 Jean-Charles Castelletto CB 2 Harold Moukoudi  62' CB 4 Christopher Wooh  75' RM 11 Georges-Kévin Nkoudou CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c) CM 6 Olivier Kemen  85' LM 18 Darlin Yongwa AM 22 Olivier Ntcham CF 9 Frank Magri  21'  75' CF 12 Karl Toko Ekambi Substitutions: DF 15 Oumar Gonzalez  75' DF 14 Junior Tchamadeu  75' FW 19 Faris Moumbagna  85' Coach: Rigobert Song

GK 22 Ibrahim Koné RB 2 Antoine Conte  56' CB 17 Julian Jeanvier CB 5 Mouctar Diakhaby  63' LB 21 Sekou Sylla CM 10 Ilaix Moriba CM 20 Mory Konaté  90+6' RW 7 Morgan Guilavogui  56' AM 18 Aguibou Camara LW 19 François Kamano (c)  45+3' CF 11 Mohamed Bayo  85' Substitutions: FW 25 Facinet Conte  56' DF 12 Ibrahim Diakité  56' FW 24 José Kanté  85' DF 3 Issiaga Sylla  90+6' 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.

19 January 2024 (2024-01-19)

17:00

Senegal	3–1	Cameroon
I. Sarr 16' H. Diallo 71' Mané 90+5'	Report	Castelletto 83'

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Attendance: 19,176^[5]

Referee: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)

Senegal

Cameroon

GK 16 Édouard Mendy RB 15 Krépin Diatta CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c) CB 22 Abdou Diallo  58' LB 14 Ismail Jakobs DM 26 Pape Gueye CM 25 Lamine Camara  90' CM 17 Pape Matar Sarr  74' RW 18 Ismaïla Sarr  82' LW 10 Sadio Mané CF 20 Habib Diallo  81' Substitutions: MF 5 Idrissa Gueye  74' FW 7 Nicolas Jackson  81' FW 13 Iliman Ndiaye  82' MF 11 Pathé Ciss  90' Coach: Aliou Cissé

GK 24 André Onana RB 26 Enzo Tchato  90+1' CB 21 Jean-Charles Castelletto  48' CB 4 Christopher Wooh LB 5 Nouhou Tolo DM 17 Yvan Neyou  75'  79' CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c) CM 6 Olivier Kemen  45+3' RW 11 Georges-Kévin Nkoudou LW 3 Moumi Ngamaleu  74' CF 9 Frank Magri Substitutions: FW 19 Faris Moumbagna  74' MF 22 Olivier Ntcham  79' DF 14 Junior Tchamadeu  90+1' 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.

19 January 2024 (2024-01-19)

20:00

Guinea	1–0	Gambia
A. Camara 69'	Report

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Attendance: 19,822^[6]

Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)

Guinea

Gambia

GK 22 Ibrahim Koné RB 12 Ibrahim Diakité  19'  86' CB 17 Julian Jeanvier  89' CB 5 Mouctar Diakhaby LB 3 Issiaga Sylla (c) CM 10 Ilaix Moriba  87' CM 23 Abdoulaye Touré RW 7 Morgan Guilavogui  77' AM 18 Aguibou Camara LW 21 Sekou Sylla  78' CF 11 Mohamed Bayo  90+2' Substitutions: MF 8 Naby Keïta  77' FW 25 Facinet Conte  78' DF 2 Antoine Conte  86' MF 6 Amadou Diawara  87' FW 24 José Kanté  90+2' Coach: Kaba Diawara

GK 18 Baboucarr Gaye CB 12 James Gomez CB 14 Noah Sonko Sundberg  81' CB 5 Omar Colley (c) RWB 17 Saidy Janko LWB 15 Jacob Mendy CM 19 Ebrima Colley  72' CM 24 Ebrima Darboe  62' CM 10 Musa Barrow  10' CF 3 Ablie Jallow CF 7 Alieu Fadera  62' Substitutions: MF 2 Hamza Barry  62' FW 20 Yankuba Minteh  62' FW 23 Muhammed Badamosi  72' FW 26 Ali Sowe  89'  81' 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.

23 January 2024 (2024-01-23)

17:00

Guinea	0–2	Senegal
	Report	Seck 61' I. Ndiaye 90'

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Attendance: 15,753^[7]

Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)

Guinea

Senegal

GK 22 Ibrahim Koné RB 2 Antoine Conte  45+5'  64' CB 4 Saidou Sow CB 13 Mohamed Ali Camara LB 3 Issiaga Sylla DM 6 Amadou Diawara RM 10 Ilaix Moriba  73' LM 8 Naby Keïta (c)  63' AM 18 Aguibou Camara CF 25 Facinet Conte  22'  78' CF 9 Serhou Guirassy  63' Substitutions: FW 11 Mohamed Bayo  63' FW 7 Morgan Guilavogui  63' DF 12 Ibrahim Diakité  64' MF 15 Seydouba Cissé  73' MF 14 Karim Cissé  78' Coach: Kaba Diawara

GK 16 Édouard Mendy RB 15 Krépin Diatta  66' CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c) CB 4 Abdoulaye Seck LB 14 Ismail Jakobs  45+2'  88' DM 26 Pape Gueye  71' DM 6 Nampalys Mendy CM 17 Pape Matar Sarr  71' RF 18 Ismaïla Sarr  72' CF 20 Habib Diallo  88' LF 10 Sadio Mané Substitutions: MF 5 Idrissa Gueye  71' MF 8 Cheikhou Kouyaté  71' FW 13 Iliman Ndiaye  72' DF 12 Fodé Ballo-Touré  88' FW 7 Nicolas Jackson  88' 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.^[8]

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.

23 January 2024 (2024-01-23)

17:00

Gambia	2–3	Cameroon
Jallow 72' E. Colley 85'	Report	Toko Ekambi 56' Gomez 87' (o.g.) Wooh 90+1'

Stade de la Paix, Bouaké

Attendance: 24,172^[9]

Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

Gambia

Cameroon

GK 18 Baboucarr Gaye RB 21 Muhammed Sanneh  90+6' CB 12 James Gomez CB 5 Omar Colley (c)  69' LB 15 Jacob Mendy RM 20 Yankuba Minteh CM 27 Yusupha Bobb  69' CM 16 Alasana Manneh LM 10 Musa Barrow SS 3 Ablie Jallow  77'  84' CF 26 Ali Sowe  73' Substitutions: DF 25 Bubacarr Sanneh  69' FW 7 Alieu Fadera  89'  69' FW 9 Assan Ceesay  73' FW 19 Ebrima Colley  84' Coach: Tom Saintfiet

GK 1 Fabrice Ondoa RB 26 Enzo Tchato CB 21 Jean-Charles Castelletto CB 4 Christopher Wooh LB 5 Nouhou Tolo CM 11 Georges-Kévin Nkoudou  90+7' CM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c) CM 18 Darlin Yongwa  80' AM 22 Olivier Ntcham CF 9 Frank Magri  72' CF 12 Karl Toko Ekambi Substitutions: FW 19 Faris Moumbagna  72' MF 6 Olivier Kemen  80' DF 2 Harold Moukoudi  90+7' 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.

Team	Match 1				Match 2				Match 3				Points
Senegal	2				1				2				–5
Cameroon	2				3								–5
Guinea	1		1		2				2				–8
Gambia			1		2				3				–8