Equatorial Guinea have for the third time in a row sailed to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations after humbling Sierra Leone 1-0 at Limbe Stadium.Pablo Comitre’s half volley in the first half was enough to send the Nzalang Nacional to the round of sixteen as group E runners up with six points, one shy of Ivory Coast who send holders Algeria out.Although Leone who returned to the tournament after 26 years in the cold bade the tournament farewell, their fighting spirit and individual brilliance was there for all to see.Brimming in confidence following the historic 1-0 over defending champions Algeria that ended their 34-game unbeaten run, the Central African state was head and shoulders above Sierra Leone from kickoff. ⚡️⚡️ ELECTRIFYING ⚡️⚡️ #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #TeamEquatorialGuinea | @PabloGanet pic.twitter.com/1Dl8I0RSsu— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2022 However, John Keister’s charges ate into Guinea’s dominance as the clock ticked but lack of cutting edge in the final third did little to threaten the man in between the sticks Jesus Ngua Owono who had little to do in the first half. Equatorial Guinea’s Ivan Salvador was forced to cut short his goal celebrations in the 35th minute after his ball was emphatically cleared at the line by Mustapha Bundu. Salvador had taken a low drive from the edge of the box that sailed past the goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara but the retreating Bundu read the move and cleared the ball.Leone would not be second time lucky three minutes later as Comitre’s belter outside the box beat the fully stretching Kamara to give Nzalang a deserved lead. In a bid to inject some spark in the forward line Keiser brought in Alhadji Kamara for Bundu in the 53rd minute, a change that saw them improve on ball possession and ability to penetrate the defence. HALF-TIME! ⏰#TeamSierraLeone 0-1 #TeamEquatorialGuineaPablo Ganet puts the National Thunder ahead after 45 minutes with a stunning curling effort.#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #SLEGNQ pic.twitter.com/DFZgOgTIAF— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2022 A completely isolated Steven Caulker nearly got his first goal for Leone that would have turned to be a the equalizer in the 61st minute but his header just went inches wide with Ngua well beaten. Leone’s quest for an equaliser bore fruit in the 82nd minute when the centre referee pointed to the spot after an Equatorial Guinea player brought an opponent down in the area.Kei Ansu Kamara stepped up but his effort was palmed away for a corner by Owono to deny the forward his third goal of the tournament and a goal that would have potentially inspired a complete comeback for Leone.Their efforts to salvage at least a point in the game were handed a blow when Kwame Quee was sent off for a second bookable offence with a minute remaining on the clock.There was drama in the dying seconds of the match when Salvador stepped up to convert from the spot only for the Video Assistant Referee to overrule the centre referee and instead awarded a freekick just outside the box.
