Cameroon edge five-goal AFCON thriller to qualify for last 16

Karl Toko Ekambi broke the deadlock for Cameroon at Stade Bouake on Tuesday night with his goal on 56 minutes but Gambia were back in the tie through Ablie Jallow with 72 minutes on the clock.

Ebrima Colley then put the Scorpions in the lead for the first time with just five minutes of left to play, only for a James Gomez own-goal, three minutes from time, to give Cameroon hope of a comeback.

And Christopher Wooh sensationally won it for the five-time AFCON winners with his header a minute into injury time.

The result sees Cameroon qualify for the knockout rounds as runners-up to Senegal, on four points, and ahead of Guinea on goal-difference, while Gambia end their tournanement pointless in position four.

Fabrice Ondoa had started in goal ahead of cousin Andre Onana and was the busier of the two keepers in the opening exchanges.

He denied Ali Sowe at his near post with seven minutes on the clock before keeping out Musa Barrow with a fine save as the Gambia striker rose to meet a 35th minute corner.

Cameroon's best chance in the first half came on 38 minutes when Toko-Ekambi raced down the right flank and whipped is a great early cross - but keeper Baboucarr Gaye intercepted before Georges-Kevin N'Koudou could nod home.

Ondoa kept out another good Barrow chance on 39 minutes, while the second half started with N'Koudou smashing a volley off of the Gambia crossbar.

N'Koudou wanted a penalty for a push on 51 minutes but his appeals were waved away, but he soon had his reward, with a superb cross to Toko-Ekambi, who calmly headed home from eight yards.

Barrow was wide from range on 63 minutes, but Jallow made no mistake with his excellent equaliser soon after.

The Scorpions were firmly on top and looking like the team to take this tie, and were sensationally ahead when Colley netted after only being on the field for a minute.

But to add to the drama, Gomez turned the ball into his own net, and a stunning header from Wooh at the death secured all three points for Cameroon.

Gambia's Mohamed Sanneh thought he had found an equaliser a minute later to make 3-3 but he was correctly adjudged to have used a hand as he flicked the ball in the goal.

READ MORE: Algeria out of AFCON as Mauritania earn first-ever win to advance