Guinea secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon on Sunday after defeating Rwanda 1-0 in Limbe Stadium.
It was a match which saw both sides finish with 10 men.
The VAR intervened twice during the quarter-final match to ensure that Syli National midfielder Mory Kante and Rwanda goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera were sent off in separate incidents.
Guinea playmaker Morlaye Sylla scored from the resultant free-kick in the 60th minute, after Kwizera was penalised for his late tackle on advancing striker Yakhouba Barry.
The goal was enough to send Guinea into the last four of the tournament in the Central African country where they will face neighbours Mali on Wednesday.
Guinea suffered a big blow in the 15th minute when captain and midfielder Mory Kante was sent off after VAR review of an incident in midfield.
The AS Kaloum player was shown the door for the serious tackle on captain Jacques Tuyisenge which led to the forced substitution of the Rwandan captain.
Injuries forced Rwanda to make two early substitutions as Tuyisenge left the pitch to be replaced by Sugira Ernest.
Martin Twizeyimana took the place of Rashid Kalisa on the half hour mark as he was also forced out of the game because of injury.
In spite of the early substitutions, the Amavubi made their numerical advantage count by pinning the Guineans to their side forcing goalkeeper Camara Moussa to come out to make some saves.
The West Africans also worked hard in defence following a flurry of attacks into their area while they relied on counter-attacks to punish the Rwandans.
Against the run of play, the brightest chance of the first half fell to defender Mohammed Bangoura.
But the left-back’s 44th minute volley after Naby Camara’s cross went off a Rwandan defender, allowing goalkeeper Kwizera to smother the ball.
The game resumed and Ernest Sugira had a great chance to break the deadlock from two yards out but he managed to smash the ball against the upright.
Moments later Kwizera was sent off following another intervention by the VAR as the Rwanda goalkeeper was found to have fouled advancing tournament leading scorer Yakhouba Barry.
Playmaker Morlaye Sllya curled the resultant free-kick beyond substitute goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi on the hour mark to break the deadlock.
Rwanda fought back strongly and in the 66th minute striker Dominique Nshuti header went off the crossbar to the delight of the Guineans.
Syli National poured forward in search of another goal but they missed decent scoring chances late in the game as the Amavubi looked tired late in the game.
Victor Kantabadouno tried to lob the Rwandan goalkeeper in the 78th minute which went wide.
Substitute striker Ousmane Camara also missed with a similar attempt with four minutes remaining which all but sealed the tie for the West Africans
The result of the match means Guinea are through to the last four of the tournament designed exclusively for home-based players.
The semi-final will start on Wednesday when Guinea take on Mali at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
The other last four match will be played on the same day between hosts Cameroon and title holders Morocco at the Limbe Stadium.
The winners of Wednesday’s matches will clash in the final at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Saturday.
The losers will play in the third-place playoff at the Reunification Stadium in Douala on Friday.
Speaking later, Guinea’s coach Mohamed Kanfoury Bangoura said the early red card disorganised his team.
”But it also gave us opportunity to change strategy and win the game. I told the boys to keep fighting so that we don’t spoil our stay in Cameroon.”
On his part, coach Vincent Mashami said the best team lost the match.
“But this is football and sometimes you win and other times suffer defeat.”
“The early injury to our captain and another attacking midfielder destabilised us a lot.”(NAN)
