The Gambia’s 2-1 win over Gabon is likely to be overshadowed by the controversy in the hours before the match that has seen the Confederation of African Football (Caf) step in to investigate.
When the game did get underway it was more than 20 minutes late with no official explanation given and the first half ended goalless.
The opening goal came four minutes after half-time thanks to a shocking mistake from the Gabon keeper Anthony Mfa Mezui, who plays in the fifth-tier of French football.
He went to clear a back pass and completely missed the ball allowing the former Swansea City striker Modou Barrow to run past him and score in an empty net.
Mfa Mezui made some amends on 67 minutes with a save from Abbie Jallow, who only had the keeper to beat.
In the 79th minute Bologna forward Musa Barrow added a second after being set-up nicely by UAE-based Steve Bubacarr Trawally, who pulled the ball across the keeper to find his unmarked team-mate.
Gabon pulled a goal back in the 89th minute as Bruno Ecuele Manga powerfully headed home a free-kick from Denis Bounga.
The problems that Caf are looking into began on on Sunday night when the Gabonese delegation were forced to spend several hours sleeping on the airport floor as they were not allowed to leave.
Gabon captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang posted footage on his social media of the team trying to sleep on the airport floor explaining the authorities had taken their passports so preventing the delegation from going to their hotel.
The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) told BBC Sport Africa that not only had the Gabonese changed their arrival time more than once leaving them unsure of their arrival time there was also a conflict over Covid-19 testing.
The Gambian ministry of health authorities insist the Gabonese delegation failed to produce the relevant paperwork for negative Covid-19 tests and also refused to undergo swabs on arrival.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has said that a disciplinary commission will “examine the causes of this incident, so as to establish the responsibilities and apply the consequent sanctions.”
Caf also said it ‘deplored’ the incident and had held a video conference call with all parties on Monday before announcing the investigation.
The result means that The Gambia are ahead of Gabon on goal difference with both teams on seven points and the same head-to-head record, with two rounds of qualifying remaining.
