AFCON 2021: Olivier Mbaizo and Cameroon advance to semifinals

Philadelphia Union defender Olivier Mbaizo’s stay in his home country will be extended through the end of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon topped The Gambia 2-0 in a quarterfinal match on Saturday. Mbaizo made his second appearance of the competition, coming off the bench in the 84th minute to help see out the clean sheet.

The win puts the hosts into the semifinal and guarantees two additional games. They’ll play the winner of the Egypt vs Morocco quarterfinal on February 3 and will be either in the third place game or final on February 6.

Karl Toko-Ekambi had both goals — scored seven minutes apart in the 50th and 57th minute — to bring his tournament total to five. Vincent Aboubakar has six in the tournament. The duo has scored all 11 of Cameroon’s goals.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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