AFCON 2021: Karl Toko Ekambi Double Sinks Gambia as Hosts Cameroon Storm to Semis

• Karl Toko Ekambi netted a second-half brace to help Cameroon see off Gambia to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations
• Gambia initially did well not to hold off Cameroon, who are among the favourites to win this year’s edition
• But the debutants’ resistance was eventually broken in the 50th minute, with Ekambi putting the result beyond doubt seven minutes later

Host nation Cameroon are through to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a convincing 2-0 win over debutants Gambia.

Karl Toko Ekambi scored a second-half brace to help the Indomitable Lions to the last four of the competition after a goalless first half.

His first goal came in the 50th minute when he headed in from Collins Fai's right-wing cross.

Seven minutes later and it was 2-0 as the Olympique Lyonnais striker finished at the back post from a low cross from Martin Hongla.

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Despite their best efforts, Gambia could not find the back of the net against Cameroon, who are considered heavy favourites to win this year’s edition of the continental spectacle.

Gambia’s heroic run comes to an end

In fact, Gambia were lucky not to have gone behind earlier in the first half as Cameroon were showing a lot of promise from the kick-off whistle, amid enthusiastic home support at the Japoma Stadium.

Winger Collins Fai saw one of his nation’s earlier efforts hit the side net, while the competition’s top scorer Vincent Aboubakar had a header glance narrowly wide.

Aboubakar was then denied from close range as his header was brilliantly kept out by Baboucarr Gaye.

Eventually, however, Gambia’s resistance was broken as Ekambi found his fourth and fifth goals of the competition.

Cameroon will now face either Egypt or Morocco in the semi-finals.

Burkina Faso edge Tunisia to storm to semis

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In the other quarter-final on Saturday, Burkina Faso beat Tunisia 1-0 to squeeze into the semis.

Django Ouattara’s goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to see the Burkinabe through to the final four of the competition as they hope to take home the title on February 6.

Tunisia, for all their brilliance in the opening exchanges, could not find a way past Burkina Faso as their impressive run in this year’s edition came to a crashing halt.