23rd January, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have qualified for the knockout stage at AFCON after beating Gambia 3-2 in a thriller.
After a goalless first half, Cameroon opened the scoring in the 56th minute of the game. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou showcased his great technique and produced a beautiful lofted cross into the box. Karl Toko Ekambi met the cross and got himself onto the scoresheet with a header inside the right post.
Gambia equalised in the 72nd minute. Ablie Jallow latched on to an inch-perfect cross into the box and drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner.
Gambia looked to have won the match when they added a second goal five minutes to the end of the game.
Assan Ceesay was in a good position inside the box but decided to pass the ball to Ebrima Colley, who kept his cool and blasted the ball inside the left post.
Two minutes later, Cameroon equalised. It was a pitiful moment for James Gomez, who tried to clear a cross into the six-yard box but instead sent the ball behind his own keeper.
One minute into added time, Cameroon hit the third goal and sealed the victory. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou launched the corner kick and superbly found the head of Christopher Wooh, whose accurate effort from near the penalty spot went straight into the left side of the goal.
Cameroon finished second in Group C behind Senegal which beat Guinea 2-0 in the second match of the group.