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    Mohamed Bayo (right) celebrates scoring for Guinea against Equatorial Guinea
    Mohamed Bayo (right) fired Guinea into the last eight at Afcon for the first time since 2015

    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 will face either Egypt or DR Congo in the last eight in Abidjan on Friday, and will find out the identity of their opponents when those sides meet later on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

    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 sent Syli National into the last eight for the first time since 2015, as Guinea triumphed for the first time in seven appearances in the knock-out stages at the finals.

    Nsue unable to continue National Thunder run

    Equatorial Guinea striker Emilio Nsue reacts after missing a penalty against Guinea a the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
    Veteran Equatorial Guinea striker Emilio Nsue (left) is the top scorer at the 2023 Afcon finals with five goals but was left to rue his miss from the spot

    Equatorial Guinea had been the surprise package from the group stage, winning Group A ahead of Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast as Nsue netted five goals to top the scoring charts.

    The first half saw 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 intervened to send Omar Artan to his screen on the touchline, and the referee decided Sylla had caught Iban Salvador on the back of the leg after the midfielder had controlled a pass and awarded a penalty.

    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 knock-out stages as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.

    Federico Bikoro fouls Mohamed Bayo
    Referee Omar Artan reached straight for his red card to send off Federico Bikoro, but awarded Equatorial Guinea a penalty following a VAR check

    Line-ups

    Equatorial Guinea

    Formation 4-4-1-1

    • 1Owono
    • 15Akapo
    • 21Orozco
    • 16Coco
    • 11Ndong
    • 6Salvador
    • 4BikoroBooked at 55mins
    • 22Ganet
    • 8Buyla

      Substituted forAsuéat 85'minutes

    • 7Machín
    • 10Nsue

    Substitutes

    • 2Senra
    • 3Anieboh
    • 5Elo
    • 12Ondo
    • 13Embela
    • 14Balboa
    • 18Ela
    • 19Asué
    • 20Eneme
    • 23Sapunga
    • 26Nabil
    • 27Siafá

    Guinea

    Formation 4-4-2

    • 22Koné
    • 12Diakité
    • 5Diakhaby
    • 17JeanvierBooked at 41mins
    • 3Sylla
    • 7Guilavogui

      Substituted forGuirassyat 60'minutes

    • 20Konaté

      Substituted forKeïtaat 79'minutes

    • 6Diawara
    • 21Sylla

      Substituted forKamanoat 79'minutes

    • 11Bayo
    • 18Camara

    Substitutes

    • 1Keita
    • 2Conté
    • 4Sow
    • 8Keïta
    • 9Guirassy
    • 13Camara
    • 14Cissé
    • 15Cissé
    • 16Camara
    • 19Kamano
    • 24Kanté
    Referee:
    Omar Artan

    Match Stats

    Live Text

    1. Match ends, Equatorial Guinea 0, Guinea 1.

    2. Second Half ends, Equatorial Guinea 0, Guinea 1.

    3. 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.

    4. Foul by José Machín (Equatorial Guinea).

    5. Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea) wins a free kick on the right wing.

    6. Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    7. Foul by Issiaga Sylla (Guinea).

    8. Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

    9. Foul by Mouctar Diakhaby (Guinea).

    10. Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    11. Foul by Aguibou Camara (Guinea).

    12. Attempt saved. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aguibou Camara.

    13. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

    14. Delay in match because of an injury Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea).

    15. 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.

    16. Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Luís Asué replaces Jannick Buyla.

    17. 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.

    18. Corner, Guinea. Conceded by Jesús Owono.

    19. 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.

    20. Foul by Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).

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