After a dramatic final phase, Cameroon made it to the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations. At the end of Group C against Gambia on Tuesday (January 23, 2024), coach Rigobert Song’s team turned a 1-2 deficit into a 3-2 (0-0) in the final minutes and thus pushed Guinea out of second place.
The five-time tournament winner will now face Nigeria in the round of 16. Christopher Wooh scored the much-celebrated winning goal in stoppage time (90+1). A few minutes later, Cameroon had to tremble again, but Gambia’s equalizer was disallowed by the video assistant due to a handball. In the meantime, the indomitable lions were on the verge of elimination when Gambia turned the game around after Karl Toko Ekambi’s opening goal (56th). An own goal from James Gomez (87th) and Wooh ensured they reached the round of 16.
Senegal celebrates group victory
Senegal, led by former Munich player Sadio Mane, secured group victory with a 2-0 (0-0) win against Guinea. Both teams had already qualified for the round of 16 at the tournament in Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) before the last game. Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy and Bremen’s Naby Keita were ineffective for Guinea. Both professionals were substituted after 63 minutes. Guinea, who are level on points with Cameroon, progressed as one of the best third-place finishers in the group.