Match ends, Equatorial Guinea 0, Guinea 1.
Mohamed Bayo headed a 98th-minute winner as Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea, who had earlier missed a penalty.
Equatorial Guinea midfielder Federico Bikoro was dismissed 10 minutes after the break for catching Bayo in the ribs with his studs.
The National Thunder were awarded a spot-kick midway through the second half after Sekou Sylla caught Iban Salvador, but captain Emilio Nsue hit the base of the right-hand upright.
And, with the game set to head to extra time, striker Bayo stooped to guide Ibrahim Diakite's cross from the right flank just inside the near post in the final minute of added time.
The West Africans have made the last eight for the first time since 2015 and will take on DR Congo in Abidjan on Friday (20:00 GMT) after the Leopards beat record seven-time champions Egypt 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Guinea had barely made their one-man advantage count in the final 35 minutes, although goalkeeper Jesus Owono was forced to tip a header from striker Serhou Guirassy over the bar in the closing stages.
Yet Bayo's dramatic late goal broke the resistance of the Equatoguineans and gave the Syli National their first triumph in seven knock-out stage appearances at the finals.
The Le Havre striker's header, clocked at 97 minutes and 38 seconds, is the latest winning goal in a knockout match in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nsue unable to continue National Thunder run
Equatorial Guinea had been the surprise package of the group stage, winning Group A ahead of Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast as Nsue netted five goals to top the scoring charts.
In the first half, there was scant action in the final third, with Bayo sending an effort into the side-netting early on and Guinea team-mate Morgan Guilavogli firing over from long range.
Nsue blasted a volley over the bar from 12 yards two minutes after the restart, but the complexion of the game changed when Bikoro was shown a straight red after following through with a clearance in midfield and catching Bayo with some force.
Equatorial Guinea were handed a glorious chance to take the lead when the video assistant referee sent Omar Artan to his touchline screen, and the referee awarded a penalty, deciding Sylla had caught Iban Salvador on the back of the leg after the midfielder had controlled a pass.
But veteran striker Nsue, who plays in the third tier in Spain, could not add to his tally at the finals despite sending Guinea keeper Ibrahim Kone the wrong way.
Aside from substitute Guirassy's header, a tame effort from right-back Diakite was all Guinea could muster before the board for eight minutes of added time went up and Bayo won it at the death.
Equatorial Guinea had reached at least the quarter-finals on their previous three appearances at Afcon, but Juan Micha's side could not repeat that achievement as 34-year-old Nsue was left to rue his costly miss while Guinea celebrated at the final whistle.
The West Africans, managed by one-time Arsenal striker Kaba Diawara, had finished behind holders Senegal and Cameroon but progressed to the knockout stages as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.
Line-ups
Equatorial Guinea
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Owono
- 15Akapo
- 21Orozco
- 16Coco
- 11Ndong
- 6Salvador
- 4BikoroBooked at 55mins
- 22Ganet
- 8BuylaSubstituted forAsuéat 84'minutes
- 7MachĂn
- 10Nsue
Substitutes
- 2Senra
- 3Anieboh
- 5Elo
- 12Ondo
- 13Embela
- 14Balboa
- 18Ela
- 19Asué
- 20Eneme
- 23Sapunga
- 26Nabil
- 27SiafĂĄ
Guinea
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Koné
- 12Diakité
- 5Diakhaby
- 17JeanvierBooked at 41mins
- 3Sylla
- 7GuilavoguiSubstituted forGuirassyat 60'minutes
- 20KonatéSubstituted forKeïtaat 79'minutes
- 6Diawara
- 21SyllaSubstituted forKamanoat 79'minutes
- 11Bayo
- 18Camara
Substitutes
- 1Keita
- 2Conté
- 4Sow
- 8KeĂŻta
- 9Guirassy
- 13Camara
- 14Cissé
- 15Cissé
- 16Camara
- 19Kamano
- 24Kanté
- Referee:
- Omar Artan
- Attendance:
- 36,340
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Equatorial Guinea 0, Guinea 1.
Goal!
Goal! Equatorial Guinea 0, Guinea 1. Mohamed Bayo (Guinea) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ibrahim Diakité with a cross.
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Foul by JosĂ© MachĂn (Equatorial Guinea).
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Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Issiaga Sylla (Guinea).
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Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Mouctar Diakhaby (Guinea).
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Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aguibou Camara (Guinea).
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Attempt saved. François Kamano (Guinea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aguibou Camara.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea).
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Attempt saved. Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Julian Jeanvier.
Substitution
Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. LuĂs AsuĂ© replaces Jannick Buyla.
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Attempt missed. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aguibou Camara with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Guinea. Conceded by JesĂșs Owono.
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Attempt saved. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Aguibou Camara with a cross.
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Foul by Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).
Comments
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I could see that guinea looked technically better from the kickoff but
havnt scored 2 goals in a game since 2019 so was always hoping until the missed penalty it could still be a last 8 place equa G
AFCON's a great tournament as you have World class to very good to good to decent players in a squad which makes the tournament so unpredictable and great to watch overall and has greatly got better in 30 years
Bit painful but this was better than going to extra time than penalties.
I predicted than Guinea would win but i also predicted Guinea would lose and Guinea would go through to the next round.
The crowd today was the difference and thankfully nothing like the WBA & Wolves type
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