Hosts Cameroon are through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations but perfect after labouring to a 2-1 settle over a Comoros aspect who bear been compelled to birth an outfield participant in goal and played numerous the sport with 10 males.
The Comoros started with left-support Chaker Alhadhur between the posts in Yaounde after two of their three goalkeepers bear been ruled out on account of Covid-19 whereas the different became as soon as lacking on account of hurt.
They then had captain Nadjim Abdou despatched off after upright seven minutes, and Karl Toko-Ekambi place Cameroon in entrance before skipper Vincent Aboubakar netted his sixth goal of the match.
No topic that it became as soon as a intrepid efficiency from the Comoros, who saved the tie alive till the discontinue on account of Youssouf M’Changama’s perfect gradual free-kick.
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The Indomitable Lions preserve their dream of successful the Cup of Nations on home soil alive as they choice to a closing-eight tie in opposition to Gambia on Saturday, yet this became as soon as the Comoros’ evening, in spite of the discontinue result.
The exiguous Indian Ocean island nation certified for the closing 16 of their first-ever appearance on the Cup of Nations after ending as one in every of presumably top-of-the-line third-positioned teams in the group stage.
On the different hand, their dream became to a nightmare as a full of 12 avid gamers and workers examined distinct for Covid-19 two days before the tie, including goalkeepers Ali Ahamada and Moyadh Ousseini.
Their other goalkeeper, Salim Ben Boina, became as soon as injured but they had hoped Ahamada would be in a region to birth after he examined detrimental on the day of the sport.
The 30-year-old Ahamada flew from Garoua, the put he had been atmosphere apart, to Yaounde on Monday afternoon in the hope of being in a region to play, perfect for the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) to resolve otherwise as his distinct result had advance upright two days earlier.
Alhadhur, a reserve left-support for French Ligue 2 aspect Ajaccio, wore the gloves, with tape worn to sign out his number three on the support of his goalkeeper’s jersey.
It became as soon as a farcical scene, and the Comoros’ difficulty worsened when Abdou became as soon as proven a straight red card for a inappropriate on Moumi Ngamaleu after the Ethiopian referee went to search out out about photos of his articulate.
In space of stop, the Comoros saved going and in say that they perfect fell gradual in the 29th minute when Aboubakar teed up Toko-Ekambi to fit home.
The islanders, whose coach Amir Abdou became as soon as amongst these lacking after testing distinct, nearly equalised quickly after as Ahmed Mogni compelled Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana into a moderately put.
Aboubakar had a 2nd-half effort disallowed for offside before making it 2-0 with 20 minutes left, ending excellently after being picked out by Martin Hongla.
But there became as soon as no crumple from the Comoros, who pulled one support courtesy of M’Changama’s piledriver from 35 metres and exit with their heads held high.
AFP
