History was made on Thursday as The Gambia and Comoros qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history. 

Gambia books their place through Assan Ceesay all-important goal after an hour to give the Scorpions a 1-0 win at Bakau’s Independence Stadium.

The Gambia now has 10 points from five matches, levelled at the top of Group D with Gabon, who thumped the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in Franceville at the same time. 

Tom Saintfiet’s charges and the Gambia Panthers now established an unassailable four-point lead point lead over third-place Congo with one match remaining, thus guaranteeing their respective spots in next winter’s tournament in Cameroon.

Latching onto a rebound, Assan Ceesay, who scored his third goal of the qualifiers, all coming against the Palancas Negras in two matches, tap into an empty net after the Angolan keeper fumbled an Able Jallow shot following a Steve Trawally cross from the right.

The Gambia is the first team in African football history to start from the preliminaries and secure a place at an AFCON final.

On the other hand, Comoros also surprises the football world after holding the Hawks of Togo to a barren draw on Thursday to sit on the same points with Egypt who also drew with Kenya.