AFCON 2023: Late drama, a send-off, a missed penalty, tears and joy as Guinea eject Equatorial Guinea

Bayo scored Guinea's late winner|LIVE SCORE X

AFCON 2023: Late drama, a send-off, a missed penalty, tears and joy as Guinea eject Equatorial Guinea

Allan Damba • 20:24 - 28.01.2024

Guinea then the struck deep into stoppage time, as Bayo headed home at the near post to score his second goal, and only Guinea’s third of the entire tournament.

After a tight 98 minutes, Guinea snatched a late winner at the expense of Equatorial Guinea to progress to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Alessane Quattara Stadium on Sunday.

Mohamed Bayo netted at the death to send Guinea into wild celebrations and heartbreak for their opponents.

Mo Bayo celebrates the opener against Cameroon. (Photo Credit: CAF/X)

The first half produced very few chances, with neither side registering a shot on target. Guinea squandered the game’s opening opportunity inside three minutes, as Mohamed Bayo struck the side-netting from an acute angle.

Saúl Coco then hit the wall from a free-kick for Equatorial Guinea before group stage goalscorer Aguibou Camara found himself tackled well by Basilio Ndong as he charged up the other end.

Guinea's Mohamed Bayo scored to help Syli National beat Equatorial Guinea || X/ @OptaJoe

AFCON’s top scorer, Emilio Nsue, had a chance early after halftime to net his sixth goal of the tournament. In space in the box, he chested the ball down well but was uncharacteristically off-target with his volley.

A few minutes later, Guinea had the ball in the net as Mory Konaté headed in from a free-kick, only to be chopped off for offside.

The second stanza was far more lively, and a major turning point saw Federico Bikoro shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Bayo, leaving Equatorial Guinea to play over 35 minutes with 10 men.

Equatorial Guinea were then awarded a penalty after Iván Salvador was clipped in the box, which Nsue struck on the post.

Guinea then the struck deep into stoppage time, as Bayo headed home at the near post to score his second goal, and only Guinea’s third of the entire tournament.

They will now face the victors between Democratic Republic of Congo and record champions Egypt.