2023 AFCON Report: Gambia v Cameroon

by Thando Mpembe

Tuesday Jan 23, 2024. 22:09

Cameroon successfully qualified for the next round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by beating Gambia 3-2 in a five-goal thriller on Tuesday evening.

Date: 23 January 2024

Gambia 2 (Jallow 72’, Colley 85’)

Cameroon 3 (Toko Ekambi 56’, Gomez 87’ (Own Goal), Wooh 90+1’)

First 45’: Gambia started off and looked like the stronger team in the beginning stages of the match. As the game progressed Cameroon started to catch off and both teams went toe to toe in terms of playing attacking football. Cameroon hit the post and failed to open the scoring as the cooling break approached. Eventually, both teams went into the break with a goalless scoreline and had time to regroup.

Second 45’: The second half saw the match turn into a five goal thriller, as opposed to the stalemate of the first half. Cameroon opened the scoring through Karl Toko Ekambi  in the 56th minute as he put a header into the back of the net.

Gambia did not take too long to level matters and the Scorpions scored in the 72nd minute through Ablie Jallow. Gambia’s Ebrima Colley would score to put them ahead but their celebrations did not last long as James Gomez scored an own goal only two minutes later, making the score 2-2.

Cameroon, showed that they were not taking anything less than a victory and scored through Christopher Wooh in stoppage time, grabbing three points and a 3-2 victory.

What’s next: Cameroon have finished in second place in Group C, behind Senegal who won the group. Gambia will not progress any further in the competition as their journey comes to an end.