AFCON UPDATE: Sierra Leone snatch draw with Ivory Coast as fast start helps Tunisia thump Mauritania

News Express |16th Jan 2022 | 560

Kei Kamara and Eric Bailly Backpagepix

Alhaji Kamara bundled the ball into the net following an astonishing goalkeeping blunder in injury time to give Sierra Leone a shock 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in Douala on Sunday.

Badra Ali Sangare went to catch a ball headed back to him by a teammate in the third added minute in an attempt to prevent a corner, only for drop it into the path of Steven Caulker who squared for substitute Kamara to score.

It was a remarkable moment and one that prevented the Ivory Coast from wrapping up qualification for the last 16 there and then.

Sangare, who has taken over the gloves at this tournament because first-choice Sylvain Gbohouo was handed a doping ban, then went off injured, leaving right-back Serge Aurier to see out the match between the posts.

Before the late drama the 2015 champions appeared to have a second win in as many games in Group E sewn up thanks to Nicolas Pepe's second-half strike, but this result leaves them on four points and Sierra Leone on two.

The Elephants must still face holders Algeria, who were themselves in action later on Sunday at the same venue against Equatorial Guinea.

In an action-packed game, Franck Kessie had an early penalty for the Ivorians saved but Ajax star Sebastien Haller put them ahead and Musa Kamara made it 1-1 before Pepe struck.

Arsenal forward Pepe, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and captain Aurier all came into the Ivorian line-up as coach Patrice Beaumelle made three changes for this west African derby.

Zaha was coming up against Sierra Leone centre-back Caulker –- the duo played in the same England team in a friendly in Sweden in 2012 before later declaring for their current national teams.

Caulker excelled in his side's surprise 0-0 draw with Algeria on Tuesday but could only look on as the Ivorians won a 10th-minute penalty when Zaha was brought down by Umaru Bangura.

However, goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara had been the star player against Algeria and he produced a fine stop to deny Kessie.

Haller set up Kessie for another glorious chance that was squandered before the Ajax player –- who netted 10 times in this season's Uefa Champions League group stage –- showed him how it should be done, controlling in the box and finishing with ease.

The lively Mohamed Buya Turay came close to equalising late in the first half for the Leone Stars but they did draw level in the 55th minute.

Musa Kamara justified his inclusion in the starting line-up by controlling the ball on the edge of the area and sending a ferocious shot high into the net.

His country's first Afcon goal since 1996 was soon trumped by Pepe's strike, only for the bizarre late scenes that allowed the outsiders to earn a point.

Elsewhere, Hamza Mathlouthi and Wahbi Khazri scored goals inside the opening nine minutes to set up a comfortable 4-0 victory for Tunisia over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group F match at the Limbe Stadium on Sunday.

Khazri added another in the second half and then laid on a fourth for Seifeddine Jaziri as Tunisia were vastly improved, having lost their opener to Mali in controversial fashion when Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe erred by twice ending the game before the 90 minutes.

Tunisia, who missed a late penalty from Youssef Msakni, have three points from their opening two matches and are in third in the group behind Gambia and Mali, who have four points each. Mauritania will finish bottom after two defeats.

Tunisia now meet surprise package Gambia in their final pool match on Thursday, while Mali tackle Mauritania. The top two teams in each group advance to the second round, along with the four best third-place finishers across the six pools. (Pieced together from reports by AFP and Reuters)