The Africa Cup of Nations returns this weekend and with it the prospect of plenty more memorable moments. 

Last time out, we were treated to one of the most tragic goalkeeper howlers we’ve ever seen and a referee inexplicably ending a match early to rage and fury – twice. 

Mail Sport recaps five of the most viral moments from AFCON 2021 (which was actually played in 2022 due to Covid-19!) ahead of the upcoming football fest.

A heart-rending mistake by a goalkeeper 

Ninety-three minutes into their group stage clash, Sangare dove to catch the ball but rolled over and let the ball slip out from underneath him across goal. 

Sierra Leone were all too glad to lap up the chance, squaring it across goal and – via a trip that nearly robbed them of the chance – Alhaji Kamara stuck it away. 

Badra Ali Sangare made an inexplicable blunder and looked distraught as Ivory Coast faced Sierra Leone 

What truly makes this moment is not so much the error – all footballers make them, especially on dodgy pitches – but Sangare’s reaction.

The camera angle catches the malestrom of emotions on his face, moving from hope to misery to despair as he tries to recover the ball, realises he can’t react quickly enough, and watches as Sierra Leone’s attacking instinct delivers the inevitable. 

And he was injured for his troubles. Bad day at the office.  

Andre Onana conceding a stupefying 40-yard free-kick

Cameroon had a fairly successful 2021 Africa Cup of Nations as they finished in third place. 

However, for a while they were worried they might suffer an embarrassing result against Comoros, a much weaker side, in the last 16. 

With Cameroon neglecting to form a wall as he was so far out, Comoros’ Youssouf M’Changama blasted a long-range free-kick into the top corner.

Onana sent himself flying to try and reach it but was well beaten by the thunderstrike, setting up a nervy spell towards the end of the game. 

The now-Manchester United goalkeeper didn’t concede any more, though, and hosts Cameroon held on for a 2-1 win. More on that next. 

Andre Onana conceded a fantastic 40-yard free-kick from Youssouf M’Changama

A left-back making a superb double save and keeping minnows in the game

Maybe there’s some wisdom in putting full-backs in goal – anyone remember Kyle Walker’s cameo betweent he sticks in the Champions League?

When Comoros played Cameroon in the last 16, they were without a recognised goalkeeper, so an outfield player had to play a full game in goal. 

In stepped Chaker Alhadhur, who somehow kept Comoros despite 19 shots being peppered in his direction and facing some of the continent’s best strikers. 

In the second half, he faced a scary situation when Vincent Aboubakar – who has won four league titles in his career with Porto and Besiktas and busted the net 221 times – was haring down on goal. 

But Alhadhur stood dived to make a decent save and then denied the follow-up by Moumi Ngamaleu while it was 1-0 to Cameroon to keep Comoros in the game.  

Comoros goalkeeper Chaker Alhadhur kept his team in the game with a double save – despite being a left-back 

One of the best goals you’ll see 

This is just brilliant. 

In their final 16 clash with Morocco, Malawi’s Gabadinho Mhango scored one of the best goals many of us will see. 

Seven minutes into the game, he picked up the ball in a fairly innocuous position with his back to goal.

Four touches later, it was in the back of the net after a screamer from roughly 45 yards out. 

Mhango cleverly lobbed goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a thunderous strike into the far corner to send Malawi wild – though ultimately they lost 2-1. 

Malawi’s Gabadinho Mhango scored one of the best goals many of us will see against Morocco

Referee blows for full-time early twice during the game 

Tunisia appealed to replay their AFCON opener against Mali after losing 1-0 in a match that was ended early.

In farcical scenes, Janny Sikazwe blew the whistle after 85 minutes and then again 17 minutes before 90 minutes were up, with Tunisia a man to the good but a goal down. 

That’s despite long delays in the game due to a water break, a sending-off, and other stoppages having taken place. 

Thirty-five minutes after the game was halted, the teams were recalled to finish the game – but Tunisia refused as they were already in their ice baths. 

As it turned out, referee Sikazwe reportedly suffered from heat stroke and severe dehydration and was later taken to hospital. 

The match was not replayed but Tunisia, thanks to being one of the best third-placed teams at the tournament, were granted passage to the last 16 when the group stages were over.  

Janny Sikazwe blew the whistle after 85 minutes and then again 17 minutes before 90 minutes were up as Tunisia were losing to Mali 

His antics sparked fury but it later emerged that he went to hospital with heat stroke and severe dehydration