Ex-Arsenal midfielder, Emmanuel Frimpong, has insisted Comoros deserved to lose their 2021 AFCON Round 16 clash against Cameroon.
The Islanders, who debuted in the tournament at the 33rd edition, won the hearts of many fans following their impressive performances against Ghana in the group stage and, then Cameroon in the Round 16.
The Coelacanths had Abdou Nadjim sent off as early as the 7th minute following an incident.
Despite the numerical disadvantage which saw them play 83 minutes of regulation time with 10 men and a makeshift goalkeeper following the number of COVID-19 cases in their camp, they took the game down to the wire and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions had to hang on for the win.
However, ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong in his post-match analysis on GTV Sports+ sensationally insisted that the debutantes deserved to lose the game contrary to what most pundits think.
“Let’s be honest. They were not going to do much with it. But, with play, they always felt like if the time is not up they can always do something in the game. Let’s not take anything away from Comoros. They deserved to lose the game. They had a player sent off. They played really well. I feel that they felt the referee should have played on,” he told Kwabena Yeboah.
At the final whistle, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seen in the Presidential box applauding the performance of Comoros following their gallant display.
Olympique Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi smashed the opening goal for Cameroon just around the half-hour mark before Vincent Aboubakar grabbed his 6th goal of the competition as he keeps up the case on Ndaye Mulamba’s 9-goal record at the AFCON which happened in 1974.
Meanwhile, Youssouf M’Changama scored a headline-grabbing goal from a thunderous free-kick from 30 yards out. The Guingamp midfielder, who came into the tournament with 4 goals and 9 assists, won the MVP award of the match.
GBC