After the completion of the knockout stages, AFCON 2021 will stage a return tomorrow with the quarter-final fixtures where the last eight teams will confront each other for a spot in the next phase of the competition.
The quarter-finals will kick off tomorrow Saturday, January 29, with two games while the last two fixtures will be concluded on Sunday, January 30, to decide the last four teams for the semi-finals.
The Gambia continued to shine on their African Cup of Nations debut as they have set up a big quarterfinal bout against hosts Cameroon in a match scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Stade Omnisport de Douala.
The Gambians did not only win their ticket as group runners- up in their maiden appearances at the biggest continental competition, but they made an additional step to get past Guinea in the R16. Bologna’s forward Musa Barrow maintained his exceptional spell of form at the 202 African Cup of Nations as his 71st-minute strike made the difference in the game against Guinea on Monday afternoon.
Barrow took part in all of his team’s four goals so far in the competition, delivering two goals and assists each along the way.
He has 5 goals and 3 assists in 18 Serie A appearances for Bologna this season and is by far the biggest star of this Gambian team.
However, Gambia are not all about Barrow. They have been very impressive defensively so far in the tournament, allowing no more than one goal in four matches.
Their rock-solid defense will be on a big challenge on Saturday as they are going face to face with competition’s top scorer Vincent Aboubakar who found the net as many as six times in four games for Cameroon.
The hosts struggled to break Comoros’ resistance on Monday in the last 16 round tie despite having an additional man on the pitch throughout the entire course of the game.
They have not been properly challenged yet at this AFCON and Gambia may well give them a very strong resistance in the battle for the last four.
Head-to-head
o The two teams played each other in the 2017 African Cup of Nations Qualifications.
o Cameroon claimed two wins in the group stage without allowing a single goal along the way.
o However, neither of the two games saw three or more goals scored.
Prediction
Cameroon are massive favorites and everything but their victory would represent a huge upset. However, Gambia have already shown impressive football against pretty strong teams such as Mali and Tunisia and we would not be shocked to see them forcing the hosts into extra-time here.
Full Fixtures
Saturday, Jan 29
Gambia v Cameroon, Douala (16:00)
Burkina Faso v Tunisia, Garoua (19:00)
Sunday Jan 30
Egypt v Morocco, Yaounde (16:00)
Senegal v Equatorial Guinea, Yaounde (19:00)
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