This will be a battle of familiar faces, with the Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane and Naby Keita fighting on opposing ends. Keita, Guinea’s skipper, was named man of the match in their opening day victory over Malawi.
There were loads of controversies in the Mali and Tunisia match with ref Sikazwe first ending the game in the 85th minute before being notified by his assistants. He went on to end the tie with more than 12 seconds left before 90 minutes.
Cameroon are now on six points and assured of a place in the last 16, and will only need to avoid defeat in their final match against Cape Verde to assure of a top spot finish.
Nampalys Mendy, Pape Matar Sarr and Saliou Ciss have all travelled from Senegal to Cameroon. In their opening match against Zimbabwe which they won 1-0 via a late penalty, coach Alliou Cisse only had 17 players available.
“I was already really happy that the guys got the job done in the first game, we're all proud of them. Now it's up to me to level up and bring all I can to the group,” he noted.
Gradel put his hands on his face as he cried celebrating his goal, having lost his dad just five days before the start of the tournament. The former Bournemouth FC striker received the news of his father’s death as the Ivorians camped for the tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He however chose to soldier on and represent his country in Cameroon.
The Zambian official gave out two penalties, a red card and ended the game twice; in the 85th and 89th minutes.
According to the head coach, Gbohouo tested positive after a random doping test was carried out on him when Ivory Coast played against Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier in Douala in November, after which a banned substance was found.
There has been a push and pull between Watford and Senegal over the involvement of the 24-year old, with Senegal insisting he has to play at the Cup of Nations if fit.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s sublime strike on the half hour mark saw the Super Eagles fly over the Pharaohs, in a performance that has definitely left them seen as one of the title favourites.
