After both teams won their opening games on Monday, Senegal, which has been heavily affected by COVID-19, shares top spot in Group A with Guinea, who is on four points.
Four points will be sufficient to secure a spot in the last 16 with the top two finishers in each group and the four best third-placed runners.
Senegal has not lived up to their title as the team to beat in the tournament, as they feel the effects of 10 absentees.
Sadio Mane, the Senegal captain, had a chance with a free kick from close range early in the game at Kouekong Stadium but he failed to score.
His Liverpool teammate Naby Keita was the dominant figure in the first half, driving his Guinea team forward with frequent probing runs at the opposing defense.
Keita’s smart through ball broke the Senegal defense and allowed two Guinea strikers to score. But Ilaix Moriba’s initial attempt was saved by SenyDieng, and Morgan Guilavogui missed the rebound.
Senegal looked much better after the break. Bouna Sarr’s 52-minute search for a free kick was almost successful in delivering the first goal. It only needed a touch to get it in.
From a free kick, Abdou Diallo, centre back Abdou Diallo, powered a header just above the crossbar four minutes later. In the 67th minute Mane ran straight down the middle of the circle to give Sarr a golden opportunity but he took the ball wide.
Senegal’s missing 10 players were all due to COVID-19 infections. They included captain Kalidou Koulibaly, first choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Idrissa Gana Guieye, who both missed Monday’s opening game.
Aliou Cisse, Senegal coach, said that it was difficult to deal with all the missing players.
Four players were missing from Guinea, and they were quarantined after being positive for HIV.
Both Zimbabwe and Malawi, which lost Monday’s game, will play in the second Group B match in Bafoussam on Friday.
