What was supposed to be a thrilling 2021 Africa Cup of Nations group B match pitting heavyweights Senegal and Guinea ended in a barren draw at the Bafoussam Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon on Friday. The match dubbed West Africa Derby was thought to be an explosive one before kick off owing to the bragging rights and the opportunity to sail to the round of sixteen that were on stake. FULL-TIME! ⏰ #TeamSenegal 0️⃣-0️⃣ #TeamGuinea Both sides add one point to their tallies as it ends goalless in our first game of the day! 🤝 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #SENGIN pic.twitter.com/kDIwU9364v— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2022 This was the third match in the ongoing tournament to end in a goalless draw as previously, holders Algeria had been held to a similar result by Sierra Leone while the clash between Sudan and Guinea-Bissau did not have goals. Both teams opened the campaign on a winning note with Senegal, the 2019 losing finalists needed an extra time penalty to beat a stubborn Zimbabwe while Guinea saw off Malawi by a solitary strike. 4.20 Gabon 3.10 Ghana 2.15The game sprung into life albeit for a moment at the stroke of half an hour when the advancing Senegal goalkeeper Seny Timothy Dieng stretched his legs to deny Morgan Guilavogui who had been put through by Liverpool star Naby Keita.What followed was a brave block by Saliou Ciss who put his body on the line to block Keita who was arguably the most lively player on the pitch from kissing the back of the net.Earlier on, the two teams appeared to have kept their secret weapons under the wraps, as they cautiously battled each other in search for the opener but the touches and movements in the final third were not convincing at all. The supposed halt time pep talk by coach Aliou Cisse brought forth the much needed vigour and hunger to roar authoritatively on the Lions of Teranga who began making inroads into the Guinea area. Abdou Lakhad Diallo was forced to cut short his goal celebrations in the 55th minute as his bullet headed shot was palmed away for a corner by Aly Keita who before then, he had commanded his area well.🦁🇸🇳 𝐒. 𝐄. 𝐍. 𝐄. 𝐆. 𝐀. 𝐋. 🇸🇳🦁#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #SENGIN | @Fsfofficielle pic.twitter.com/y1hIHIyVYH— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2022 Bouna Sarr will have himself to blame for not throwing Senegal ahead in the 66th minute when Sadio Mane squared the ball into his way but he rifled the ball off the target. The two teams continued their search for the much needed opener and a potentially the match winner without success and will have to win their final group stages matches of they habour hopes of gracing the knockout stages.At the same time, the two sides will have to pray for a favorable result in the other match that brings Zimbabwe and Malawi.
