The Gambia got here again from two targets right down to pressure a 2-2 draw with Congo in earthquake-devastated Morocco on Sunday and ebook its place at subsequent yr’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Gambia wanted solely a draw whereas Congo needed to win the Group G encounter which went forward in Marrakech regardless of the highly effective earthquake close to town which killed some 2,100 individuals.
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The match was being performed in Morocco as a result of Gambia have been banned from internet hosting worldwide matches by the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) till they improve their stadiums and was doubtful after Friday’s 6.8 magnitude quake, which pressured each groups to evacuate their resort rooms and sleep subsequent to their respective resort swimming pools.
Coaches mentioned the gamers had been traumatised by the results of the highly effective quake however have been advised by CAF to go forward with the sport, despite the fact that Morocco’s scheduled qualifier on Saturday was postponed.
Congo scored first, when Gaius Makouta poked dwelling from shut vary on the half-hour mark, after which had a fortuitous penalty transformed by Silvere Ganvoula after Gambia captain Omar Colley was adjudged to have dealt with the ball. Tv replays confirmed the ball had hit him on the shoulder blade however there was no VAR in operation for the match.
Gambia staged an unlikely comeback with teenager Yankuba Minteh getting a aim within the 79th minute after which Muhamed Badamossi scoring on the stroke of time to make sure Gambia completed second within the group, behind already-qualified Mali, and denied a crestfallen Congo a spot on the finals.
It’s the second successive qualification for considered one of Africa’s smallest international locations. On the final Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, Gambia brought about a number of upsets earlier than being eradicated within the quarterfinal.
Its qualification means there are solely two extra locations to be determined for the 24-team match within the Ivory Coast from Jan. 13-Feb. 11. Cameroon meets Burundi in Group C on Tuesday and the result of the match in Garoua will decide which two of Burundi, Cameroon and Namibia go to the finals.
Apart from the Ivorian hosts, already certified are Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia.
Earlier on Sunday, Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick as Nigeria competed its qualifying programme with a 6-0 dwelling win over Sao Tome e Principe in Uyo. They’d crushed the small island nation 10-0 away earlier within the marketing campaign.
Togo got here from two right down to beat the Cape Verde Islands 3-2 in Lome with a double from Kevin Denkey.