AFCON 2021: Ablie Jallow's phenomenal strike earn debutants Gambia win against Mauritania

• The Gambia went to joint top of Group F with Mali after beating Mauritania 1-0 in an AFCON encounter in Limbe
• The West Africans got a goal in the early moments of the first half and managed to hold onto the slim scoreline and emerge winners
• The Scorpions are making their first AFCON appearance at this year’s competition

The Game scaled through their Africa Cup of Nations debut in impressive style after edging out Mauritania 1-0 in the second Group F game played on Wednesday, January 12, in Limbe.

Ablie Jallow's superb shot in the 10th minute of the encounter was enough to guarantee The Scorpions their maiden AFCON victory which sees them joint top with Mali in Group F.

There were also good second-half chances for the small west African country, one of two debutants in the 24-team field for the tournament in Cameroon.

The game was played in high intensity that it prompted five yellow cards from center referee Bernard Camille Seychelles with Mauritania having two and Gambia with three.

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Mauritania appealed for a penalty with 15 minutes left but it was turned down by VAR, and in the final minutes, Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Diop made two key saves, first denying Dembo Darboe and then Barrow.

With much tougher group games to come against Mali and Tunisia, Wednesday's outcome was always going to be important for both Gambia and Mauritania in terms of their hopes of advancing.

The top two teams in each of the six groups, plus the four best third-placed finishers, advance to the round of 16.

The Gambia will next play against fellow group toppers Mali on Saturday, January 16 while Tunisia will be seeking redemption when they play Mauritania on same day.

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Ibrahima Kone’s goal from the penalty spot was enough to settle the game but that was far from the main talking point in the game.