The host took advantage of home support to brush aside the stubborn Gambia side with a commanding 2 – 0 victory.
Toko Ekambi netted a second-half brace to put an end to The Gambia’s fairytale campaign at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
The Scorpions of the Gambia as usual proved tactically disciplined and frustrated the host throughout the first 45 as goalkeeper Babucarr Gaye denied Vincent Aboubakar from adding to his six-goal tally from point-blank when the forward had his header saved with the arm of the Gaye.
However, a cautious Gambia side who were largely seating deep, couldn’t muster the energy in the second have as they found out to their cost when Ekambi nodded home from a Fai’s cross on the 50th minutes, before side-footing home another cross on the 57 the minutes to increase his tally to five, one behind the competition top scorer Vincent Aboubakar.
For the Gambia, this was a historic debut in the AFCON as they exceeded their dreams by going this far. The host proved their title ambitions as they edge closer to a sixth AFCON title.
