Drama As Cameroon Advance To Last 16 And Ghana Go Out

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Cameroon Football team

In a thrilling turn of events on Tuesday, Cameroon managed to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Gambia, scoring twice in the closing moments of the match. This triumph not only earned them a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 but also led to the elimination of Ghana from the tournament.

The intense finish in Bouake saw Ebrima Colley giving Gambia a 2-1 lead at the 85th minute, only for Joseph Gomez to concede an own goal. The game took an unexpected turn with Christopher Wooh’s added-time goal, ultimately winning the match for Cameroon.

In the other Group C match, defending champions Senegal defeated Guinea 2-0, finishing with nine points. Cameroon secured the second spot on goal difference after both teams collected four points. Unfortunately, Gambia ended the tournament without any points, despite their commendable performance in one of the most remarkable matches of the competition.

Cameroon’s victory meant that four-time winners Ghana were eliminated, finishing third in Group B with only two points. Hosts Ivory Coast, reeling from a shocking 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea on Monday, could still advance if Zambia and Tanzania lose their final Group F matches on Wednesday.

The match between Cameroon and Gambia was a rematch of the 2022 AFCON quarter-final, which Cameroon won 2-0 with Toko Ekambi scoring both goals.

Coach Rigobert Song reinstated Toko Ekambi to the starting lineup after his participation in a draw with Guinea and being an unused substitute in the loss to title-holders Senegal. Despite being 80 places above Gambia in world rankings, Cameroon faced considerable pressure in the first half and were fortunate to enter halftime with a 0-0 score. Ondoa, a cousin of Onana, made a crucial save, parrying a hard close-range shot from Ali Sowe in the early stages of the match at the 40,000-seat stadium in the central city.

Cameroon secured the second spot in Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after staging a comeback to defeat Gambia 3-2 in the final group match.

Toko-Ekambi found the net for Cameroon, while Gomez contributed an own goal before Wooh scored the decisive goal in additional time for Rigobert Song’s team.

Jallow Ablie and Colley Ebrima were the goal scorers for Gambia.

With this result, the Indomitable Lions will face Nigeria in the Round of 16 match on Saturday.

Match highlights

Second half

90+11 mins – Di referee check im watch and blow im whistle to signal di end of dis match.

90+10 mins – Cameroon opts for a short corner instead of delivering the ball into the penalty area.

90+7 mins – A substitution takes place as Georges-Kevin N’Koudou exits the field, and Rigobert Song imparts the final tactical instructions to Harold Moukoudi.

90+6 mins – Muhammed Sanneh is booked as he registers his name with the referee.

90+6 mins – The jubilation for Gambia is short-lived as the referee signals NO GOAL after a VAR review reveals a handball!

90+5 mins – Hold on! Referee Tessema Bamlak indicates that he will review the Gambia goal using VAR, likely to ascertain if there was a handball in the build-up.

90+4 mins – In the 93rd minute, Muhammed Sanneh meets the corner and showcases his scoring prowess, heading the ball into the right side of the goal. The score is now 3-3.

90+3 mins – The referee awards a corner, and Yankuba Minteh steps up to take it.

90+3 mins – James Gomez attempts to locate a teammate with a well-executed lofted pass, but the defense reacts swiftly to intercept the effort. The ball goes out of play, providing Gambia with an opportunity to score from a corner.

90+1 mins – 2 – 3 – Goal! Georges-Kevin N’Koudou delivers a corner kick and expertly finds the head of Christopher Wooh (Cameroon), whose accurate header from near the penalty spot goes straight into the left side of the goal. The score is now 2:3.

87 mins – 2 – 2 – Own goal! A unfortunate moment for James Gomez, who attempts to clear a cross into the six-yard box but instead sends the ball behind his own keeper. The score is leveled at 2:2.

85 mins – 2 – 1 – Ebrima Colley scores a goal!

85 mins – Substitution: Ablie Jallow is replaced by Ebrima Colley.

84 mins – Georges-Kevin N’Koudou tries to break free, but the defender clears the ball away.

83 mins – Attendance is 24,172.

82 mins – Ablie Jallow’s shot from mid-range just flies over the bar.

81 mins – Yankuba Minteh is looking for the right moment to send a killer pass.

81 mins – Foul by Faris Moumbagna, and the referee blows his whistle.

80 mins – Substitution! Darlin Yongwa is replaced by Olivier Kemen.

79 mins – Karl Toko Ekambi meets a cross inside the box and heads it towards goal. Unfortunately, he sends the ball just over the crossbar. What a chance! The ball goes out of play, and Gambia will have a goal kick.

78 mins – A cooling break is currently underway.

77 mins – The referee issues a yellow card to Ablie Jallow because he played the ball after it went out. He needs to be cautious for the remainder of the match.

77 mins – What a chance! Karl Toko Ekambi squanders a significant opportunity as he receives a beautiful pass inside the box but only manages to prod the ball onto the crossbar!

76 mins – Assan Ceesay receives a neat pass inside the box and instantly hammers the ball toward goal, but a defender makes a last-ditch block to deny him.

75 mins – Gambia takes a quick corner.

75 mins – Alieu Fadera runs onto the ball and hits a thunderbolt of a shot at goal from the edge of the box but narrowly misses the right post.

73 mins – Substitution: Assan Ceesay (Gambia) comes in for Ali Sowe.

72 minutes – Substitution: Frank Magri walks off the pitch, and Faris Moumbagna comes on as a substitute.

70 minutes – Ali Sowe latches onto a precise lofted cross inside the box, controls the ball, and unleashes a fine strike towards the bottom right corner. His dangerous effort is blocked by Fabrice Ondoa, who makes a glorious save!

69 minutes – Omar Colley’s contribution ends as he is replaced by Bubacarr Sanneh.

68 minutes – Darlin Yongwa sends a lofted cross into the box, but it is headed away.

64 minutes – Yankuba Minteh makes a run into the box in an attempt to reach a long through ball, but one of the opponents clears it crucially.

62 minutes – Yankuba Minteh gets a chance at goal from the edge of the box, but his shot drifts high over the bar to safety.

62 minutes – Gambia quickly takes a corner kick with a short pass.

60 minutes – Wow, what an escape. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou has an effort from inside the box, but it is brilliantly blocked.

59 minutes – The VAR decision has come. They say it’s a goal, and Cameroon players have a reason to celebrate!

58 minutes – The Cameroon players pause their celebrations as referee Tessema Bamlak makes the VAR signal to review the goal, most likely to ascertain if there was an offside in the build-up play

56th minute – Georges-Kevin N’Koudou displays excellent technique, delivering a beautiful lofted cross into the box. Karl Toko Ekambi meets the cross and puts himself on the scoresheet with a header inside the right post. The score is now 0-1.

55th minute – Baboucarr Gaye is alert to collect a long through ball from Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, but it’s an easy save for the keeper!

53rd minute – Nouhou holds his head in his hands after missing a chance.

50th minute – VAR! Georges-Kevin N’Koudou receives a fine pass from the side and takes a shot from around the penalty spot, but the ball hits the crossbar.

50th minute – Enzo Tchato plays a poor pass, attempting to get the ball into the box before it’s intercepted.

49th minute – Darlin Yongwa delivers a fine cross into the penalty area, but the defense clears it.

47th minute – Good movement from Cameroon in the attack.

46th minute – The match has started.

First half: The referee has blown his whistle to signal the end of the first half, with 45+5 minutes on the clock.

Yankuba Minteh is doing well and looks set to continue despite concerns.

At 45+2 minutes, Yankuba Minteh is visibly struggling. We will soon find out the extent of his injury.

As we reach the 45-minute mark, there will be 3 minutes of stoppage time, and both teams are gearing up for the final plays of the half.

In the 43rd minute, Ablie Jallow swings the ball into the box from a corner kick, but it’s too strong and goes out of play.

Musa Barrow receives a fine ball inside the box in the 43rd minute, but a defender steps up to clear it.

At 42 minutes, Ablie Jallow crosses into the box from a corner, but the defense successfully clears it.

Yankuba Minteh is called offside in the 39th minute.

In the 39th minute, Musa Barrow enters the box and attempts to beat Fabrice Ondoa with a shot, but the goalkeeper makes a crucial save.

At 38 minutes, Yankuba Minteh tries to pass the ball into the penalty area, but it gets blocked.

In the 35th minute, Yankuba Minteh has a significant chance as he times his jump well to head the ball down, but the goalkeeper saves it.

The referee and his assistant both point to the corner flag in the 35th minute, giving Gambia an opportunity to threaten the opposition goal.

35 minutes – Yankuba Minteh attempted a solo run but failed to create a scoring opportunity.

31 minutes – The referee blew the whistle for a cooling break due to the high temperature.

30 minutes – The linesman raised his flag, signaling that Ali Sowe was offside.

29 minutes – Yusupha Bobb took a mid-range shot, but it went over the crossbar.

27 minutes – Alassana Manneh committed a foul. Being too careless in his challenge, he left Tessema Bamlak with no choice but to blow the whistle. Cameroon was awarded a free kick.

27 minutes – Jean-Charles Castelletto attempted a long cross-field pass, but the defense intercepted the ball.

26 minutes – Ablie Jallow connected well with the cross at the edge of the box and took a shot, but it went wide.

23 minutes – Musa Barrow played a dangerous low pass inside the penalty area, but the defense managed to clear it.

22 minutes – Omar Colley is able to continue playing.

20 minutes – Omar Colley is down injured, and the referee stopped play for him to receive medical treatment.

20 minutes – Omar Colley is down injured, and the referee halts play to allow him to receive medical treatment.

18 minutes – Tessema Bamlak blows his whistle as Karl Toko Ekambi employs excessive force in the tackle during an attacking move.

16 minutes – Karl Toko Ekambi receives a well-executed pass inside the box, but his attempt on goal is blocked by a defender.

15 minutes – Frank Magri receives a pass and tries his luck with a powerful long-range effort. Unfortunately, his poorly placed shot lacks accuracy and sails over the crossbar. The ball goes out of play, and Gambia will have a goal kick.

12 minutes – Frank Magri sends a cross, but he fails to find any teammate inside the box. It’s a poor delivery, and the ball goes out of play, resulting in a Gambia goal kick.

12 minutes – Georges-Kevin N’Koudou takes the corner, but the opposition defense is well-prepared and clears the ball to safety.

12 minutes – Frank Anguissa crosses into the box from the corner, but the defense easily clears it.

10 minutes – A free kick inside the box is taken by Frank Anguissa, but it doesn’t trouble the opposition defense. The linesman signals for a corner.

10 minutes – Jacob Mendy commits a foul, and Tessema Bamlak blows his whistle for the foul. It’s a free kick to Cameroon.

7 minutes – A rebound bounces out to Alassana Manneh on the edge of the box, but he fails to control his shot, slipping it well inside the right post. The ball goes out of play, resulting in a goal kick for Cameroon.

7 minutes – They successfully clear a cross played into the box by Ablie Jallow. Gambia earns a corner and sends players into the box.

6 minutes – Enzo Tchato delivers a cross, but the defender is alert and clears it to safety.

5 minutes – A Cameroon player crosses the ball into the box, and Frank Magri reacts quickly, shooting towards the middle of the goal, but Baboucarr Gaye makes the save.

3 minutes – Yankuba Minteh produces a lovely ball into the penalty area, but the defender manages to intercept and comfortably avert the danger.

1 minute – Yankuba Minteh requests medical treatment after picking up an injury.

1 minute – The match has begun.

Cameroon is pinning its hopes on a victory when they face Gambia in their final group match on Tuesday evening. The Indomitable Lions have only secured one point so far and could be eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations if the results don’t go their way in this crucial game.

Rigobert Song’s team needs a positive outcome to secure their spot in the knockout stage, especially after their recent defeat to Senegal on Friday, which leaves them trailing behind Guinea with three points in the table. The team will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance against Gambia.

Gambia, on the other hand, has yet to earn any points in the tournament, but they could pose a challenge for their opponents in this match. The other group game will feature Senegal against Guinea. Senegal, the defending champions, has already qualified for the round of 16 by winning their first two games.

Gambia’s Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Gaye
Defenders: Muhammed Sanneh, Gomez, Omar Colley, Mendy
Midfielders: Jallow, Manneh, Bobb, Minteh
Forwards: Barrow, Sowe
Cameroon Starting XI: Ondoa, Castelletto, Wooh, Tolo, Tchato, Ntcham, Zambo, Yongwa, Toko Ekambi, Magri, Nkoudou

Substitutes: Moukoudi, Ngamaleu, Kemen, Ateba, Tchamadeu, Gonzalez, Epassy, Neyou, Moumbagna, Elliott, Onana, Mputu

Gambia vs Cameroon Team News: Yankuba Minteh is one of the standout players for Gambia, while midfielder Ebou Adams is available again after serving a one-match ban for his red card earlier in the group stage.

Cameroon, on the other hand, is concerned about the fitness of their star striker Vincent Aboubakar, who missed their opening two games.

Drama As Cameroon Advance To Last 16 And Ghana Go Out

Cameroon Football team

Match highlights

Second half

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