After an incredible goalkeeping blunder in injury time, Alhaji Kamara bundled the ball into the net to give Sierra Leone a 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in Douala on Sunday.
In the third extra minute, Badra Ali Sangare attempted to prevent a corner by catching a ball headed back to him by a teammate, only to dump it into the path of Steven Caulker, who squared for replacement Kamara to score.
It was a spectacular moment that kept the Ivory Coast from securing automatic qualification for the last 16 right there and then.
Sangare, who has been filling in for first-choice Sylvain Gbohouo at this tournament due to a doping ban, was later injured, leaving right-back Serge Aurier to finish the game between the posts.
Prior to the late drama, the 2015 champions appeared to be on their way to a second win in as many games in Group E, owing to Nicolas Pepe’s second-half score, but this result leaves them on four points, while Sierra Leone is on two.
The Elephants must still face holders Algeria, who were in action against Equatorial Guinea at the same site later on Sunday.
Franck Kessie’s penalty for the Ivorians was saved early in the game, but Ajax’s Sebastien Haller put them ahead, and Musa Kamara tied it 1-1 before Pepe struck.
Coach Patrice Beaumelle made three changes for this west African rivalry, bringing in Arsenal attacker Pepe, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, and captain Aurier.
Zaha was facing Sierra Leone centre-back Caulker, with whom he had previously played in a friendly in Sweden in 2012 before declaring for their respective national teams.
Caulker shone in his team’s 0-0 draw with Algeria on Tuesday, but he could only watch as the Ivorians won a penalty in the 10th minute after Zaha was taken down by Umaru Bangura.
Goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara, on the other hand, had been the star player against Algeria, and he made a superb save to deny Kessie.
Haller set up Kessie for another wonderful opportunity that was squandered before the Ajax player – who scored 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season – showed him how to do it, controlling in the area and scoring with ease.
The Leone Stars came close to equalizing late in the first half through Mohamed Buya Turay, but they were able to draw level in the 55th minute.
Musa Kamara earned a place in the starting lineup by controlling the ball on the outskirts of the box and unleashing a thunderous shot into the net.
Pepe’s strike quickly overtook his country’s first AFCON goal since 1996, only for weird late events to allow the outsiders to earn a point.In the late game on Sunday, Algeria will face Equatorial Guinea.
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Tunisia came back from a contentious opening loss to Mali by defeating Mauritania 4-0 in Group F, with Gambia and Mali drawing 1-1.Gambia and Mali are tied for first place with four points each, while Tunisia is a point behind.
On Thursday, the Scorpions meet Tunisia in their final group game, while Mali faces Mauritania.
