Bayo late show so gr-eight
Equat’l Guinea 0 Guinea 1 MOHAMED BAYO scored a last-gasp winner to send Guinea into the last eight of the Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of 10-man Equatorial Guinea.
The game looked destined for extra-time in Abidjan before Bayo headed home from Ibrahim Diakite’s cross with just 22 seconds remaining of eight minutes of stoppage time.
The majority of that time had come from a lengthy VAR check, which eventually saw Equatorial Guinea awarded a penalty for a foul by Sekou Sylla on Iban Salvador, only for captain Emilio Nsue to hit the post.
An early shot narrowly wide from Bayo was the only attempt on goal worthy of mention in an otherwise turgid first half, but the game sprang to life in the second period.
Nsue failed to make the most of a fortunate ricochet just two minutes after the interval as he volleyed wastefully over the bar, while Guinea’s Mory Konate headed home from a free-kick in the 53rd minute only for his effort to be chalked off for offside.
Guinea were handed a man advantage just two minutes later when
Federico Bikoro was shown a red card for a high-footed challenge on Bayo.
Equatorial Guinea should have taken the lead from the penalty spot after Sylla’s foul on Salvador was eventually confirmed following a VAR check.
That gave Nsue the chance to net his sixth goal of the tournament – but the veteran forward could only look on in despair as his shot hit the base of a post.
Despite their numerical advantage, Guinea rarely looked like scoring and Jesus Owono tipped over sub Serhou Guirassy’s late header. But the deadlock was finally broken with Bayo in the perfect place to head home the winner.