Yaounde Jan. 18 (BNA): Senegal faced off 0-0 against Malawi in another Africa Cup of Nations upset on Tuesday, although the Senegalese still qualified for the knockout stages.
Zimbabwe, already eliminated, presented a double upset when they beat Guinea 2-1 in another Group B match, an Associated Press report said.
Despite the loss, Guinea also advanced behind Senegal with these two teams occupying the automatic qualification positions in the group as expected but not in the expected manner.
Senegal ended up winning just one of their three group stage matches – the opening match against Zimbabwe and only after Sadio Mane scored a penalty in the 97th minute.
On Tuesday, Senegal may have lost even after Malawi was awarded a penalty late when the whistle blew to drag Gomezgani Chirua over the edge of the area.
Cameroonian referee Blaise Yovin Ngoa checked VAR technology and then changed his mind and canceled the penalty when Sarr appeared to have already obstructed Chirua.
Malawi still has a good chance of advancing to the playoffs for the first time as one of the top four third-placed teams.
Guinea were 2-0 up against Zimbabwe with a header from Knowledge Musuna and a goal by Kodakoshi Mahachi shortly before the end of the first half.
Guinea captain Naby Keita managed to revive his team with an inside shot from the right wing and a left-footed missile into the top corner.
Guinea boosted the pressure but couldn’t break through again and Keita left the field shaking his head despite Guinea’s progress to the Round of 16.
The Africa Cup of Nations raised one surprise after another in Cameroon and could have more later on Tuesday when four-times champions Ghana tried to revive a faltering campaign against first-timers Comoros. Gabon is also looking to qualify in that group when it faces the already advanced Morocco.
Gabon was absent from captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was released to return to Arsenal for further medical tests after being diagnosed with what the Gabonese Football Association described as heart lesions while recovering from Covid-19 in the African Cup.
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