Breaking down chaos of Cameroon classic with The Gambia – Goals, VAR & no Onana

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has been packed full of drama already but it reached new heights on Tuesday as Cameroon and The Gambia exchanged four goals — one disallowed — in about ten minutes in a chaotic finish to Group D.

The week began with drama in Group B with Ghana, whose elimination was confirmed on Tuesday, conceding twice in stoppage time against Mozambique to throw away a 2-0 lead. And the rollercoaster ride that is this season's AFCON continued apace a day later.

A few hours before Algeria were eliminated, five-times winners Cameroon needed a victory over The Gambia to progress and Rigobert Song's side ultimately prevailed with the help of a stand-in goalkeeper, a late comeback…. and VAR.

For those unfortunate to miss it in real time, fear not. The Athletic has gone back through the extraordinary ending to help you relive it.

Here we go…

81 minutes, 42 seconds With the game at 1-1, the first domino falls as Ablie Jallow, who had scored The Gambia's 72nd-minute equaliser, pulls up with an apparent hamstring injury. After treatment on the pitch lasting more than a minute, he leaves the game distraught using his shirt to cover his face and the emotions on show.

83:55 Ebrima Colley, cousin of captain Omar Colley, is introduced to replace Jallow on the right wing.

84:28 Just over 30 seconds after coming on, Ebrima Colley exchanges a one-two with fellow substitute Assan Ceesay before finishing brilliantly past Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who has surprisingly been picked ahead of Manchester United's Andre Onana, to make it 2-1. Cameroon's appeals for offside fail to overturn the decision.

86:22 After elaborate celebrations that in which the majority of The Gambia team leave the field to share the moment with the