Ghana officials absent as Senegal destroy Guinea

Senegal, considered a serious threat to African title favourites Ivory Coast and Ghana, dished out a 4-1 hammering to fellow qualifiers Guinea in Mantes-la-Ville on the outskirts of Paris.

Guinea are in the same group with Ghana for the next African Cup, while Senegal could face Ghana as the tournament progresses. The Ghana FA did not have envoys or scouts watch the Guineans play, especially with January’s impending meeting on the horizon.

Instead, the Black Stars watched the game together in their hotel, inside the city itself. Goran Stevanovic and the team also discussed potential threats and weaknesses in both sides. Both Francophone nations fielded full strength squads, with the potency of Senegal’s goal-scoring prowess particularly underlined.

Goals from Nguirane Ndaw, Souleymane Camara, Dame Ndoye put Senegal 3-0 up by recess and Mame Diouf wrapped the game for the Teranga Lions soon after. Guinea’s consolation come from the veteran Pascal Feindouno in the latter stages of the game. Senegal's cohesive and one-touch passing was pleasant to watch, while Guinea had problems on the wings.

The strong forwards of Senegal gave the Guinea defence - made up of Kamil Zayatte, Mamadou Diallo, Kalabane, Omar Kalabane and Ibrahima Kamara - problems as they swapped places constantly. This was Senegal's second emphatic win against Guinea this year following a 3-0 win in February.

Espace FM, a Conakry-based radio station, reported after the Friday night game that Guinea would send its scouts to watch Ghana play Gabon on Tuesday.