Senegal started off their title defense on a winning note after putting three goals past 10-man Gambia national team.
It took just five minutes for them to break the deadlock as Pape Gueye struck after good work from Sadio Mane. Lamine Camara then scored twice after the break – including a brilliant curling effort late on – to mark a solid start to Group C.
Aliou Cisse’s side made the perfect start when Sadio Mane teed up an unmarked Pape Gueye, who rifled his shot into the bottom corner from inside the box.
Gambia created some good opportunities in the first half with Musa Barrow curling a free-kick into the side netting while Ali Sowe headed over following a corner.
Elsewhere at stade Charles Konal Banny In Yamoussoukro, the indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Syli national of Guinea Conakry settled for a 1-1 draw.
M Bayo opened scoring for the Guineans and the West Africans held on to it for the first 45minute but the
Cameroonians equalized in the 51st minute to have a share of the spoils.
The result meant that Senegal leads group C while Cameroon and Guinea are joint second on the log.