In a tense clash at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Guinea held giants Cameroon to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the second Group C game of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
Guinea seized the early advantage when Mohamed Bayo capitalized on ample space and time, seizing a loose ball inside the penalty box to beat Cameroon’s goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa and give his team the lead against the five-time champions.
However, Guinea’s hopes were dealt a blow when captain Francois Kamano was sent off after an incident with Cameroonian midfielder Olivier Ntcham in added time of the first half. The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the situation, and the initial yellow card was upgraded to a red card by Referee Mutaz Ibrahim, reducing Guinea to 10 men.
Cameroon exploited the numerical advantage in the second half, finding the equalizer six minutes after the break. Frank Magri displayed superb aerial ability, connecting with a free kick to level the score at 1-1.
Despite being a man down, Guinea displayed resilience and held firm to secure a valuable point in the group stage. Cameroon, on the other hand, will now face defending champions Senegal in their next match on Friday, at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, in what promises to be a highly anticipated encounter.
