🌍 AFCON: Comoros eliminate Ghana as Hakimi rescues Morocco in thriller | OneFootball

More Africa Cup of Nations action continued on Tuesday evening with the final round of group stage matches from Group B and Group C.

Here is what went down.

Comoros claim maiden win as Ghana exit

Scorers: Boakye 64′, Djiku 77′; Nabouhane 4′, Mogni 61′, 85′

Four-time AFCON champions Ghana have been eliminated in the group stage thanks to Comoros picking up their first win in the competition after a back-and-forth contest.

The Coelacanths took a shock early lead after just four minutes as Ben Nabouhane wrote his name into national history with the country’s first ever AFCON goal with a fine low finish after a break down the right.

And after waiting more than two games for their first in the tournament, another arrived shortly on the hour thanks to Ahmed Mogni driving a low effort into the corner after Ghana had been reduced to 10 men.

That came after just 25 minutes in controversial fashion as André Ayew was shown a red card following a VAR check as he caught the goalkeeper with his studs in attempting to score from a rebound after the ball was spilled at his feet.

Without him, his side did spark a revival when Richmond Boakye scored from a corner with his goalkeeper lost at sea after chasing the ball before another corner caused more problems on 77 minutes, allowing Alexander Djiku to score from close range.

But all of that work was undone as Mogni scored his second of the game five minutes from time to secure an historic win for Comoros and send Ghana home early as bottom placed finishers.

Gabon and Morocco both through after thriller

Scorers: Allevinah 21′, Aguerd 81′; Boufal pen 73′, Hakimi 84′

Even in the absence of key duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina who have left the camp, Gabon still booked their place in the knockout stages following a 2-2 draw with Morroco, who go through as group winners.

Jim Allevinah’s second goal of the tournament gave Gabon the lead on 21 minutes from a goal that owed much to goalkeeper Jean Noel Amonome’s long ball and an unfortunate slip from Morocco’s Sofian Chakla.

Sofiane Boufal scored from the spot to equalise in the closing stages and looked to have salvaged top spot again in his country’s favour.

But Naif Aguerd then put through his own net with nine minutes remaining due to pressure from Aaron Boupendza to put Gabon back in the box seat, only for Achraf Hakimi to curl in a fantastic free-kick to secure a point and with it, first place.

Senegal top Group B despite dull draw

Despite controlling almost 80% possession throughout the match, Senegal continued to lack in the final third with none of Sadio Mané, Boulaye Dia or Habib Diallo finding the net.

The Liverpool star had a chance to open the scoring six minutes in but couldn’t scoop the ball over Malawi’s goalkeeper Charles Thomu and their attack seemingly fizzled out from there.

Instead, Malawi were the more threatening side down at the other end throughout the first half. Efforts from Khuda Muyaba and Gabadinho Mhango called goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into action with the latter’s deflected free-kick coming closest to opening the scoring.

With things deadlock at the break, Senegal aimed to ramp up the pressure and did so successfully. However, attempts from Diallo and Idrissa Gana Gueye were pushed over the bar by Thomu.

Some late drama would then take place after Malawi thought they were handed a chance to potentially top the group from the penalty spot only to see VAR overturn the decision.

In the end, the 0-0 draw sees Senegal finish top of Group B and Malawi end up third.

Zimbabwe stun Guinea

Scorers: Musona 26′, Mahachi 43′; Keïta 49′

It was an end-to-end match between Zimbabwe and Guinea and an unmarked Knowledge Musona broke the deadlock just before the 30-minute mark with a thumping header.

Then while Guinea continued to test goalkeeper Talbert Shumba looking for an equaliser, Zimbabwe were able to double their lead after Kudakwashe Mahachi’s strike found the back of the net just before half-time.

Coming out after the break Liverpool star Naby Keïta turned the tie on its head after he smashed the ball into the net following a stunning solo run.

And with virtually the entire second half left to play, the match was still up for grabs and both sides continued to have a flurry of chances in front of goal.

However, despite multiple attempts at either end, nobody could find the back of the net again seeing Zimbabwe claim their first win of the tournament.

The shock result sees Guinea finish second in Group B, while Zimbabwe end up last despite the victory.