Cameroon beats a team without a goalkeeper, Comoros score the most beautiful goal, and Gambia writes history in the African Nations | Football

The Comoros national team kidnapped everyone’s appreciation after its historical steadfastness against Cameroon, despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the two teams’ match in the African Nations Cup final, in a tournament witnessing remarkable brilliance for the Gambia team in its first participation.

Cameroon, the host of the tournament, beat Comoros 2-1 after a match that saw an early expulsion of Comoros player Nadjim Abdo in the seventh minute, and after the video assistant referee intervened due to a violent error in the middle of the field.

The expulsion doubled the problems of the team, which is participating for the first time in the tournament, as it played the match in the absence of a main goalkeeper and a large number of its players due to infection with the Corona virus.

Karl Toko Ekambi scored Cameroon’s first goal in the 29th minute after a weak shot past Shaker El Hadhour, and Vincent Abubakar added the second goal from close range in the 70th minute.

Karl Toko Ekambi opens the scoring for Cameroon#African Cup of Nations | #CameroonComoros #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/DtIXrh98c5

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 24, 2022

Youssef Mchangama reduced the difference for Comoros with a superb long-range free kick in the 81st minute.

A defender in a goalkeeper’s clothing

The Comoros national team had to rely on left-back Shaker Al-Hadhour to guard the goal against Cameroon, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) refused to include goalkeeper Ali Ahmeda, although his result was negative for Covid-19.

And goalkeeper Salem Ben Buena suffered a serious shoulder injury, while the two guards, Ahmeda and Moayed Osini, entered self-isolation last week due to infection with the Corona virus.

Ahmeda’s result was negative on Monday, and the Comoros Federation announced in a press briefing that the goalkeeper would be able to play.

But the medical committee in Kef rejected the goalkeeper’s participation and said that any player who enters quarantine needs to wait five days before playing.

Shaker Al-Hadhour excels in front of the tournament’s top scorer ✌️#African Cup of Nations | #CameroonComoros#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/uWAsw8i8y4

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 24, 2022

Comoros relied on goalkeeper Shaker El Hadhour, 30, who plays in Ajaccio in the French second division, and this is the first appearance in the tournament for the player who joined the national team in 2014.

Comoros coach Amir Abdo is still in quarantine and watched the most important football match in the country’s history from his hotel room.

Abdo was the reason for the development of this team and led it to qualify for the final price, contrary to all expectations, after its sudden victory over Ghana 3-2.

The tournament regulations stipulate that any team must play as long as it has at least 11 ready players. In the absence of a goalkeeper, another player must participate in that position.

Gambia fascinates everyone

On the other hand, Gambia continued its surprises and beat Guinea 1-0, to reach the quarter-finals in its first participation in the African Nations Cup.

Striker Moussa Barrow scored the game’s only goal in the 71st minute after receiving a superb pass from Youssef Bob, who received the ball superbly with his right foot, then scored with his left foot to decide the final price match.

“We kept our focus and played as a team,” Barrow told beIN Sports. “A dream came true for the Gambia national team, but we have to keep our focus. We are humility and humility is the hallmark of successful people.”

Luck is against the Guinean national team, and the ball refuses to enter the Gambia goal#African Cup of Nations#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/kxO8vqHzsp

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 24, 2022

Gambia, which has the worst ranking in all 24 teams participating in the Nations Cup and is ranked 150th in the world, played the last minutes with ten players due to the expulsion of substitute Youssef Nji in the 87th minute.

Guinean Ibrahima Konte was sent off just before the final whistle.

Gambia overcame a surprising obstacle, as two players were left out of the starting lineup just before kick-off due to food poisoning.

“I am very proud of my team,” Gambia coach Tom Saintfeet said.

The Gambia met with Cameroon in the quarter-finals.