The Senegalese team appears to be struggling under the weight of the match’s significance. Despite expectations for a strong response from the Lions following their double defeats against the Elephants in the 2013 African Cup qualifiers, they find themselves trailing 2-0 within the first 20 minutes of play.
Didier Drogba and his team are holding their ground effectively against the Senegalese. The Galatasaray striker initiated the scoring with a penalty in the 5th minute. The Senegalese, under constant pressure from the Ivorian attackers, conceded an own goal in the 14th minute, credited to Sané.
As noted by Serge Saurier, an Ivorian player, there seems to be a sense of fear permeating the Senegalese camp. The team is facing challenges in dealing with the stakes of the match, evident in their early deficit against the Ivorians.
