FIRST-TIMERS Gambia have continued their amazing run at the Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with progress to the quarter-finals.
The Scorpions stung Guinea 1-0 in Douala on Monday to reach the last eight of Africa’s most important football competition on their debut.
Musa Barrow scored the all-important goal midway into the second half to send the tiny West African country through.
Guinea were missing the suspended Liverpool midfielder Naby Keïta, along with their only other goalscorer at the tournament, Issiaga Sylla, and it was Gambia who made the brighter start.
Guinea’s best opportunity in the opening half fell to Mohamed Bayo, with the Clermont striker losing his balance and shooting well wide after the ball dropped into his path in the box.
The breakthrough for Gambia came in the 71st minute when the ball was threaded to Bologna forward Barrow who wheeled away from his marker before a confident finish past Aly Keita in the Guinea goal.
Guinea thought they had equalised not long after soon afterwards, but Ibrahima Conte’s goal was ruled offside.
Gambia were then reduced to 10 men when substitute Yusupha Njie was controversially dismissed after two bookings, the second of which was given for a light touch on Conte in an aerial challenge.
The Guinea defender himself was dismissed minutes later for a second yellow card.
The Gambians held on to their slender lead and claimed a famous victory, despite Guinea hitting the woodwork twice in the dying moment.
