AFCON 2021: EQG Break Sierra Leonean Hearts To Advance To Knockouts

Equatorial Guinea dominated and eventually defeated Sierra Leone on Thursday, in their last game of the group stage by a 1-0 scoreline.

A victory that allows Equatorial Guinea qualify, unlike her opponents (Sierra Leone), eliminated from the adventure in Cameroon.

It is the third time in history that Equatorial Guinea is getting past the group phase; (quarter-finals in 2012, semi-finals in 2015).

Guinea’s win against Sierra Leone put them second in Group E, behind Côte d’Ivoire and ahead of their direct opposition on the day, Sierra Leone, who will not be ranked amid the best third placed teams.

From the start, Juan Micha’s men imposed their game, controlled the ball and were logically rewarded. Just after a save from Mustapha Bundu on his goal line (36 ‘), Pablo Ganet bamboozled Mohamed Kamara with a curled shot, at the 38th minute. Non-existent and harmless in the first half, Sierra Leone came close to equalizing in the second. Steven Caulker’s long ball nearly went – in, off Jesús Owono’s post, two minutes after the hour mark.

Above all, the Equatoguinean goalkeeper saved Kei Kamara’s penalty (85), before his teammates narrowly missed a goal themselves at the 87th minute.

Sierra Leone’s Kwame Quee was logically excluded, for a second yellow card at the cusp of the final whistle, and Equatorial Guinea had done enough.

Equatorial Guinea will face Mali on Wednesday, in their round of 16 tie.