Guinea completed a turnaround to beat Guinea-Bissau 2-1 in the 2017 Wafu Cup of Nations knockout round at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Djurtus took the ascendancy early on and opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Gilson Correia headed a pin-point free-kick from the left by Tigana Quebe into the back of the net, 1-0.
Guinea almost levelled matters in the 27th minute when a shot-cum-cross from the right by Seydouba Camara came back off the crossbar.
Three minutes later the National Elephants were afforded the perfect opportunity to equalise when Hemiliano Gomes Lopes pulled Ismael Sylla down inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Sekou Ketia stepped up for Guinea and made no mistake from the penalty-spot to draw the game level, 1-1.
In the 40th minute the National Elephants took the lead after a great passing move inside the Guinea-Bissau box concluded with Abdoulaye Camara slotting home from close range, 2-1.
The second half started slowly and chances on goal were at a bare minimum.
The first real opportunity of the stanza only came on the hour mark courtesy of a stinging 25-yard free-kick from Guinea’s Seydouba Camara, but the Djurtus keeper made a find save to deny him.
In the 78th minute Guinea-Bissau almost equalised when Mutaro Embalo broke into the box from the left flank, but his shot from an acute angle was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Abdoulaye Sylla.
The Djurtus threw numbers forward in search of a second goal, but Guinea defended stoutly to hold on for a hard fought 2-1 win.
Lineups:
Guinea: 1. A Sylla, 2. Alseny Camara, 4. N Camara, 5. A Conde, 3. I Sylla, 17. D Bangoura, 8. Abdoulaye Camara, 13. M Jean (7. Sory Camara 86’), 10. S Camara, 11. K Keita (Cisse 71’), 15. S Keita (K Camara 62’).
Guinea-Bissau: 12. Rui Dabo, 13. Mane, 14. Correia, 5. Lamine Ba, 17. Lopes, 6. Djalo, 10 Embalo, 8. Pires, 7. Quebe, 11. Embalo, 9. Da costa (18. Junior 60’).
