Hosts Cameroon set up an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final against Gambia but only after laboring to a 2-1 win over a Comoros side who were forced to start an outfield player in goal and played most of Monday's game with 10 men.

Left-back Chaker Alhadhur started between the posts for the Comoros in Yaounde after two of their three goalkeepers were ruled out due to COVID-19 while the other was missing due to injury.

They then had captain Nadjim Abdou sent off after just seven minutes, and Karl Toko-Ekambi put Cameroon in front before skipper Vincent Aboubakar netted his sixth goal of the tournament.

Despite that it was a heroic performance from the Comoros, who kept the last-16 tie alive until the end thanks to Youssouf M'Changama's stunning late free-kick.

"I don't think I am the only hero. I did what I could. I think I gave hope to the team and they all tried to help me," Alhadhur, usually a back-up left-back for French Ligue 2 side Ajaccio, told broadcaster Canal Plus.

He had to use tape to mark out his number three on the back of his goalkeeper's jersey.

Of being chosen to go in goal he added: "It was something that at first we spoke a bit about and laughed about, but then it became serious.

"I was chosen but I didn't believe it until I put on the gloves and the top. Then I realized it was serious. There were lots of emotions going through my head but then I just got on with it."

Like the Comoros, a Gambia side ranked 150th in the world are appearing at their first ever AFCON but they upset the odds to beat Guinea 1-0 in the western city of Bafoussam earlier on Monday thanks to a terrific second-half strike by Bologna's Musa Barrow.

Gambia then held on with 10 men at the end after Yusupha Njie was sent off, as Guinea hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in stoppage time.

The Guineans, deprived of suspended Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, had Ibrahima Conte sent off at the death as they bow out.

Gambia's achievement was all the more remarkable as coach Tom Saintfiet revealed the squad was affected by food poisoning during the night.

"We didn't have a good feeling about today because many of us had food poisoning, including me. I didn't sleep and was up at the toilet all the time, vomiting and with diarrhea," he told Canal Plus.

The last-16 action continues on Tuesday as Senegal play Cape Verde in Bafoussam before Morocco take on Malawi in Yaounde.

Meanwhile, eight people were killed in a crush outside a Cameroon stadium in the capital Yaounde before an Africa Cup of Nations football match on Monday night, according to a preliminary health ministry report.

"Eight deaths were recorded, two women in their thirties, four men in their thirties, one child, one body taken away by the family," the report said. State news had reported earlier that "half a dozen people died and dozens were injured."