Sarr assists Senegal through to the knockout stages

Pape Matar Sarr provided an assist in his first-ever start at the Africa Cup of Nations to help Senegal defeat Cameroon 3-1 and book their place in the last 16.

Having previously made just one substitute appearance at the continental tournament - coming in the 2022 semi-final against Burkina Faso - Pape was named in Senegal's starting XI for the first time as they faced Cameroon in their second group stage game in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

And our number 29 made an instant impact, intercepting a clearance from a corner to tee up Marseille's Ismaila Sarr to open the scoring on 16 minutes. He then nearly grabbed another assist on 39 minutes but, after threading in Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool man's shot was blocked.

They did double the lead on 71 minutes though as Al-Shabab's Habib Diallo netted with Pape playing a key pass in in the build up.

After our central midfielder was withdrawn on 74 minutes, Cameroon got themselves back into the game with Nantes defender Jean-Charles Victor Castelletto heading in on 83 minutes. In the final minutes, they should have been level with former Spurs man Georges-Kevinn Nkoudou presented two glorious opportunities, but he couldn't find the target.

And they would be made to rue that miss as Mane did go on to find the target, sealing the victory with Senegal's third in added time. Those three points, added to the victory over Gambia on Monday, was enough to send the Lions of Teranga through to the knockout stages.

To secure top spot in the group though, they will need to avoid defeat in their final Group C clash with Guinea on Tuesday as their neighbouring nation sit just two points behind them.