The Scorpions couldn't pull off a comeback after Aguibou Camara's 69th-minute strike, despite making seven attempts on goal that unfortunately missed the mark.
Tom Saintfiet's squad, who suffered a 3-0 defeat in their opening match against Senegal, are still struggling to secure any points or score in the ongoing tournament.
In their upcoming group game against Cameroon, there's a slim chance for redemption as they aim to gain some pride and finally notch their first points and goal. However, looking at their history against the Indomitable Lions, things don't seem too optimistic. The West Africans have been on the losing side in all three of their previous encounters, including a defeat during the knockout stage of the 2022 AFCON tournament.
Cameroon kicked off their AFCON journey with a 1-1 draw against Guinea, but a tough 3-1 loss to Senegal in their second match has put their chances of advancing to the round of 16 in a precarious position.
Ismaila Sarr's shot, taking a deflection, and Habib Diallo's precise finish left the Indomitable Lions trailing by two goals with just 20 minutes left. A glimmer of hope appeared when Jean-Charles Castelletto scored a late header in the 83rd minute, but Sadio Mane's stoppage-time goal crushed any hopes of a comeback.
Rigobert Song's team now has just one point from two games, making their upcoming clash against Gambia a must-win situation to secure a spot in the knockout stage. However, even a victory doesn't guarantee automatic qualification for Cameroon. They'll also need Senegal to beat Guinea to enhance their chances. In case they don't secure the second spot, there's a possibility of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams, depending on other match outcomes.