Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored four goals and was shown a red card. Photo: AFP
The 36-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona striker’s heroics kept Gabon’s chances of reaching the tournament alive. However, his night ended prematurely when he received a red card, ruling him out of Gabon’s final match.
Gabon currently sit second in Group F with 10 points, just one point behind leaders Ivory Coast.
Aubameyang put Gabon ahead after just 20 minutes with a powerful close-range shot. Gambia responded quickly through Yankuba Minteh, who equalized three minutes later.
The former Arsenal star restored Gabon’s lead before halftime, but Gambia refused to give up, as striker Adama Sidibeh scored a late first-half equalizer from a free kick, sending the teams into the break tied 2-2.
After the break, Gambia scored again through Sidibeh’s header, but Aubameyang responded with another headed goal in the 63rd minute, before sealing Gabon’s victory with a precise strike in the 78th minute.
However, in the final minutes, Aubameyang’s night ended prematurely after receiving a red card, forcing his to miss Tuesday’s decisive match against Burundi.
Ivory Coast hammer Seychelles
In Group F, Ivory Coast continued their impressive form, thrashing Seychelles 7-0 away. The Elephants claimed their first match against Seychelles with a 9-0 scoreline two years ago.
Seven different players scored for Ivory Coast, starting with Ibrahim Sangare in the seventh minute and ending with Franck Kessie in injury time.
In Group B, Senegal kept a two-point lead after dismantling South Sudan 5-0 in Juba.
Meanwhile, DR Congo secured a tense 1-0 victory in Togo, with veteran striker Cedric Bakambu scoring the lone goal in the seventh minute.
In Dar es Salaam, Sudan and Mauritania played out a goalless draw, eliminating Sudan from the race for a World Cup spot.
The nine group winners qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the four best runners-up will enter the continental playoffs for a chance to expand Africa’s representation to a 10th team in the tournament.
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