In a close and highly contested match, it was finally Guinea who won in the last minute of added time against Equatorial Guinea (1-0). The national Sily wins the first direct elimination match in its history in CAN and heads towards the quarter-finals.
Published on: 01/28/2024 – 8:07 p.m. Modified on: 01/28/2024 – 8:08 p.m.
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From our special correspondent at the Alassane Ouattara stadium in Ebimpé,
It was an unprecedented round of 16, a duel between two Guineas which had never taken place until now in a CAN. Brilliant during a group phase which they largely dominated by finishing first in their group ahead of Nigeria and Ivory Coast, the Equatorial Guineans entered the field with more certainty than their opponents of the day. Third in their group, the Guineans experienced a much more sluggish first round.
But the knockout phase is often an opportunity to put everything back on track, which Kaba Diawara’s men did not fail to try to do by starting this meeting with their feet on the floor. The national Sily put pressure on the Equatoguinean defense from the start of the match by trying to quickly move forward. As usual since the start of this CAN, Nzalang Nacional, for its part, chose to let its opponent come to try to punish him on the counter.
Read alsoCalendar, results and rankings of CAN 2024 matches
A meeting on a false rhythm
The meeting finally got stuck in a false rhythm, as if the two teams wanted to leave the initiative of the game to their opponent. The main victim of this type of scenario being firstly the spectacle, the supporters of the Ebimpé stadium had a lot to eat until the break.
While the second half resumed calmly on the same basis, the match finally got carried away after a goal refused to Mory Konaté. Alone at the far post, the Guinean defender adjusted Jesus Owono with an unstoppable header after a free kick from the left, but the referee rightly signaled the player offside. It was barely two minutes later (54th) that the match changed with the expulsion of Federico Bicoro for a high foot which ended up in the stomach of the Guinean Mohamed Bayo.
Nsue misses on penalty
At 11 against 10, the national Syli will however be on the verge of being trapped after the referee whistles a penalty in favor of Nzalang following a foul in the area on Iban Edu. It was the top scorer of the competition, Emilio Nsue, who took responsibility for hitting him, but this time luck did not smile on him since his shot ended up on Ibrahim Kone’s left post, although he was caught counterbalance.
Outnumbered, the Equatorial Guineans then logically began to show their first signs of weakness in defense. Under the onslaught of the Guinean attackers, Nzalang held out for a long time. But it was ultimately Mohamed Bayo who delivered the 36,000 spectators at the Ebimpé stadium by heading a ball from the right into Owono’s goal in the 98th minute of play.
With this victory snatched in the last seconds, Guinea validates its ticket for the quarters and wins the first direct elimination match in its history in an African Cup of Nations. The Equatoguineans will be able to harbor regrets for a long time after their missed penalty.
Read also Equatorial Guinea-Guinea live: relive Syli’s victory at the end of added time
2024-01-28 19:07:11
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