Camara's brace lights up Senegal's breeze past Gambia in Cup of Nations opner

Lamine Camara bagged a brace in his Cup of Nations debut as defending champions Senegal swept past Gambia 3-0 to lay down an early marker at the tournament.

Trailing to Pape Gueye's fourth minute opener for Senegal and with half-time rapidly approaching, Gambia defender Ebou Adams stabbed his studs into the back of Camara's calf as the 20-year-old Metz midfielder moved away with the ball.

Referee Redouane Jiyed intially showed a yellow card for the petulance but he was summonded by the video assistant referees to review the challenge on the on-field monitor at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro.

The Moroccan returned to the field and dismissed Adams for the ugly hack.

Seven minutes after the restart Ismaila Sarr threaded a pass into the space where Adams should have been patrolling for Camara who advanced and angled his drive past the Gambia goalkeeper Baboucarr Gueye.

Camara, who won the under-20 Cup of Nations with Senegal in March, bagged his brace with some style. 

Substitute Illiman Ndiaye dazzled his way past two defenders on the right of the Gambia penalty area and pushed the ball towards Camara who showed exquisite technique to curl it over Gueye and into the top right hand corner of the Gambia goal.

Cameroon, who take on Guinea in the second game in Group C, will take on Senegal on Friday.