The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are through to the semi final after defeating Gambia 2-0 in a quarter final match of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations 2021 played at the Japoma Stadium in Douala. Karl Toko Ekambi brace ends Gambia's fairy tale Africa Cup of Nations story in the quarter-finals and sends hosts into the Semi-final.
After a goalless first half, the 5-time AFCON winners Cameroon returned charged, scoring twice in seven-minutes in the second half, Toko Ekambi got his first with a 50th-minute header and then, in the 57th minute, snuck in behind the Gambian defence to tap home a square pass for the second. Ekambi now has five goals at the tournament, one behind Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar.
Cameroon will face Egypt after the North African derby ended in favor of the Pharoahs who defeated Morocco 2-1 after extra time to reach AFCON semi-finals; goals from Mohamed Salah and Aston Villa midfielder Trezeguet sets up a showdown with hosts Cameroon.
Salah led side went behind after Sofiane Boufal converted an early penalty for the Atlas Lions in the seventh minute following a late foul on Hakimi by Egypt's Ayman Ashraf but Salah equalized for Egypt with a close range tap in in the 53rd minute and then set up the winning goal, sending in a perfect low cross for Trezeguet to tap in near the end of the first half of extra-time to set up the Pharaohs play hosts Cameroon in the semi-finals in Yaounde.
while in the other Quarter-final Senegal beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to advance ; Famara Diedhiou, Cheikhou Kouyate and Ismaila Sarr were all on target for the Teranga Lions at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon. Famara Diedhiou gave Senegal the lead when he capitalized on a well placed Sadio Mane cross to score past Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesus Lazaro Owono in the 28th minute but conceded as Jannick Buyla Sam leveled, substitutes Cheikhou Kouyate and Ismaila Sarr to come on and restore Senegal's lead and put the result beyond doubt.
Senegal, one of the tournament favourites, will lock horns in a semi-final meeting with Burkina Faso after the Stallions who were without their talisman and captain Bertrand Traore beat Tunisia 1-0 to progress to the semifinals. Dango Ouattara who was later sent off in the closing stages scored the winning goal in first-half stoppage-time from a swift counter attack, Ibrahim Toure played him through on goal and he cut inside before firing past Bechir.
Burkina Faso were reduced to ten men late on when goal scorer Dango was sent off for swinging an arm on a Tunisian defender. The Burkinabe held on to progress to the semifinals of the tournament a memorable win over Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and they will meet play Senegal.
Burkina Faso Vs Senegal Wednesday 2nd February 20:00
Cameroon Vs Egypt Thursday 3rd February 20:00
All times are in West Africa Standard Time
