HISTORY WRITTEN: Debutant Gambia Shock Guinea To Advance To Last 8
Musa Barrow bagged the only goal of the encounter as Gambia stunned Guinea 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match played on Monday evening.
In a match that had few clear chances at the Kouekong Stadium, it was the Scorpions who seemed likely to score.
Guinea nearly had the perfect start from a floating delivery into the area off a corner-kick minutes after kickoff, but Mohamed Bayo went wide from the tightest of angles.
The Scorpions started to show up a little over 12 minutes and a ferocious shot outside the area from Musa Barrow brought their opposite number to sharp reflexes.
Although, the Sily National witnessed a golden chance go astray through a close-range attempt by Bayo eight minutes to the break from a smart through ball.
The Sily National made a strong start to the second half and as such closed in on the lead through a first-time header in the area by Saidou Sow, but it was smothered.
Tom Saintfiet’s men secured the breakthrough inside the midway point of the second half after Barrow squeezed through two challenges to find the bottom-corner.
Gambia’s Musa Barrow celebrates with team-mates after opening the scoring. Photograph: Sunday Alamba/AP.
Guinea appeared to have drawn level minutes later through a first-time finish at the far post from Ibrahima Conte, but he was flagged for offside with Yusupha Nje introduced by the Scorpions.
In the end, the Scorpions continued their impressive debut campaign in the tournament with the victory that ensured progression to the quarter-finals.
Gambia now join Burkina Faso and Tunisia in the last eight in their first-ever appearance at the competition.
