AFCON2012 Cup co-hosts wary of Ivorian stars

Equatorial Guinea admit they did not want to face Ivory Coast Saturday in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
   The Estadio de Malabo pairing appears to be the mismatch of the last-eight phase with 133 places separating the countries on the FIFA world rankings this month.
   Ivory Coast are packed with familiar English Premier League names like brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure from Manchester City, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of Chelsea and Gervinho from Arsenal.
   Equatorial Guinea do not have a single footballer with international status and are competing in the African football showcase only because places are automatically reserved for host nations.
   The Ivorian build-up to the tournament was professional and smooth, but the Equatoguineans changed coaches less than three weeks before the kick-off and captain Rodolfo Bodipo has not started a match because of a niggling injury.
   While Ivory Coast triumphed against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Angola with the minumum of fuss, Equatorial Guinea shocked Libya and Senegal before coming up short against group winners Zambia.
   "I wish we could have met Ivory Coast in the final rather than now," confessed midfielder Javier Balboa, once on the payroll of Real Madrid and Benfica and now with Portuguese outfit Beira Mar.
   "It is not that we cannot beat them, but their status as a star-studded team is very formidable. There are very high expectations of us across the country," said the match-winner against Libya.
   "So it would be catastrophic if we were eliminated in the quarter-finals as many hearts will be broken. Supporters are expecting us to reach the semi-finals and even the final."
   Among the supporters of the National Lightning is President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the longest serving ruler on the continent, who expects the team to "display attractive football and sporting values and win the cup".
   A fondness for football runs in the Obiang family with a son rewarding the dramatic victory over Libya in the opening match two weeks ago with a million-dollar bonus.
   Suspended centre-back Laurence Doe and midfielder Iban 'Randy' Iyanga and rested full-back David Alvarez missed the Zambia match and should return to face the Elephants before an expected 15,000 sell-out crowd.
   Ivory Coast started with nine 'B' team players against Angola, but coach Francois Zahoui will take no chances against the minnows and is set to wheel in his 'big guns' with a semi-finals date against co-hosts Gabon or Mali at stake.
   That means a strike force of captain Drogba, Kalou and Gervinho and guaranteed anxiety for Brazil-born goalkeeper Danilo, one of several naturalised players in the Equatorial Guinea squad.
   A pre-tournament warning by former Italy-based professional Zahoui not to underestimate any opponent -- no matter how weak they appear to be -- seems to be rubbing off on his stars.
   "Equatorial Guinea are a very organised team who play well together and have a good spirit so we need to be careful," emphasised centre-back Souleymane Bamba from English second-tier club Leicester City.
   Reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure echoed those views: "It is going to be tough playing against the co-hosts, but I believe we have the experience and the footballers to make it."

AFCON 2012: General statistics after group phase

 

Top Scorers

3 goals: Manucho (ANG), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (GAB), Houssine Kharja (MAR)

2 goals: Abdoul Camara Razzagui, Sadio Diallo (GUI), Ihad Albusaïfi, Ahmed Osman (LBY) Mudathir Eltaïb, Bashir Ahmed (SUD), Youssef Msakni (TUN), Christopher Katongo, Emmanuel Mayuka (ZAM)

1 goal: Mateus (ANG), Moumouni Dagano, Alain Traoré (BFA), Mogakolodi Ngele, Dipsy Selolwane (BOT), Wilfried Bony, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, Salomon Kalou (VIC), Daniel Cousin, Bruno Mbanangoye, Stephane Nguema ( GAB), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah (GHA), Mamadou Bah Dioulde, Naby Soumah, Ibrahima Traoré (GUI), Daniel Alvarez, Javier Balboa, Iyang Iban (EQG), Younes Belhanda (MAR) , Garra Dembele, Seydou Keita, Bakay Traore (MLI), William Tonji Ngounou (NIG), Deme Ndiaye, Dame N'Doye, Moussa Sow (SEN), Issam Jemaa, Khaled Korbi (TUN), Rainford Kalaba (ZAM)

Own-goal: Bakary Kone (BFA) against Côte d'Ivoire

 

61 goals (average 2.5 goals per game)

Group A: 15 goals

Group B: 15 goals

Group C: 15 goals

Group D: 16 goals

 

Day One: 15 goals

Day Two: 30 goals

Day Three: 16 goals

 

Top scoring teams

7 goals: Guinea

6 goals: Gabon

5 goals: Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia

4 goals: Angola, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia

3 goals: Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Senegal

2 goals: Botswana, Burkina Faso

1 goal: Niger

 

Best defence

No goal: Côte d'Ivoire

1 goal: Ghana

2 goals: Gabon, Equatorial Guinea

3 goals: Guinea, Mali, Tunisia, Zambia

4 goals: Libya, Sudan

5 goals: Angola, Morocco, Niger

6 goals: Burkina Faso, Senegal

9 goals: Botswana

 

General classification after the first round

 

 

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Côte d’Ivoire	3	3	0	0	5	0	+5	9
2	Gabon	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4	9
3	Ghana	3	2	1	0	4	1	+3	7
4	Zambia	3	2	1	0	5	3	+2	7
5	Tunisia	3	2	0	1	4	3	+1	6
6	Mali	3	2	0	1	3	3	0	6
7	Equatorial Guinea	3	2	0	1	3	2	+1	6
8	Guinea	3	1	1	1	7	3	+4	4
9	Libya	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4
9	Sudan	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4
11	Angola	3	1	1	1	4	5	-1	4
12	Morocco	3	1	0	2	4	5	-1	3
13	Senegal	3	0	0	3	3	6	-3	0
14	Burkina Faso	3	0	0	3	2	6	-4	0
15	Niger	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0
16	Botswana	3	0	0	3	2	9	-7	0

 

 

 

Ranking from 9th to 16th

 9: Guinea

10: Libya

11: Angola

12: Morocco

13: Senegal

14: Burkina Faso

15: Niger

16: Botswana

 

Yellow cards: 44

2: Zambia

3: Ghana

4: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Libya, Senegal

5: Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Sudan

6: Mali

7: Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Morocco

9: Tunisia

 

Red cards: 4

Direct: John Mensah (Ghana) against Botswana

Direct: Patrick Motsepe (Botswana) against Guinea

Two yellow cards: Lawrence Doe (Equatorial Guinea) against Senegal

Two yellow cards: Diouldé Mamadou Bah (Guinea) against Ghana

 

Match that recorded no cards: Equatorial Guinea vs Zambia (Group A)

 

 

AFCON2012 Mali clinch quarterfinal spot

Mali progressed into the quarterfinals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after second half goals from Garra Dembele and Seydou Keita handed them a 2-1 win over Botswana in Libreville.

 

The Eagles had to come from behind after Mogakolodi Ngele had put the Zebras into a shock lead early in the second half, but the combination of their win and the draw between Ghana and Guinea was enough to clinch a place in the knockout rounds from a tightly-contested Group D.

 

Botswana went into this game hoping to put to bed the memories of that 6-1 defeat to Guinea behind them with a positive performance. While The Zebras could have qualified for the last eight, they needed an incredible score line to do that.

 

Botswana were put under pressure early in this game, as they had every man behind the ball as Mali played with confidence.

 

The Eagles’ Modibo Maiga did well to turn his marker inside out but his cross was over-hit when a goal looked certain in the 15th minute.

 

Again in the 26th minute, Maiga, who had been seeing a lot of the ball out wide for much of the match, got his head to a deep cross but failed to keep the effort on target under pressure from the Botswana defence.

 

Bakaye Traore with wasted a great scoring opportunity to round off a super build up for Mali, although the ball did bobble horribly just as he hit his shot from the edge of the box. There must have been 30 passes on the edge of the Botswana box as the Eagles tried to find space in which to attack.

 

In the 42nd minute, Abdou Traore found some magic in his feet with a fantastic turn as he tried to open up the Botswana defence, but to no avail, before Drissa Diakite drove in a fierce cross that Marumo did well to palm away. The Zebras showed great discipline in defence.

 

In the second half, the Zebras looked a lot more attack minded in the opening minutes and it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring. In the 51st minute, Mogakolodi Ngele powered the ball into the back of the net with his left foot after latching on to a great cross from the right-hand side from Moemedi Moatlhaping to make it 1-0.

 

But Botswana’s happiness did not last long as Mali responded within a matter of minutes. Garra Dembele restored parity from close range for the Eagles.

 

A great cross from Traore from the left-hand side was headed on target by Maiga and it was well saved by Marumo, but Dembele was first to react and smashed the ball home from just outside the Botswana six-yard box.

 

In the 68th minute, Coulibaly smashed the ball against the crossbar after an incredible run following a link up with Dembele. The substitute raced into the box before unleashing a bullet of a shot.

 

Seydou Keita renewed his side's hope of progressing with a super finish in the 75th minute. The Barcelona man curled the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net after linking up with substitute Diabate, who just managed to poke the ball back to his teammate with Motlhabankwe unable to clear the ball while sitting on the deck.

 

After the goal, every Botswana player was behind the ball as they attempted to stifle the Mali frontline, who were buoyed by their goal and went in search of another.

 

Phenyo Mongala’s late influenced did not repay the Zebras as Mali went on to win 2-1.

AFCON2012 Ghana held by Guinea but co-favourites still march into quarter finals

Ghana and Guinea fought out a 1-1 draw with Guinea in a West Africa derby in Group D of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012 played in Franceville. The draw ensured that The Black Stars finished top of the group but Guinea missed on quarter final place as Mali beat Botswana 2-1 in Libreville to claim second place in the group. Guinea who started the day needing a win to stay in the competition were no push overs and stretched the co-favourites but their loss to Mali in the first cost them a fourth successive quarter final place.

It was Guinea who showed early moments of promise with a mobile short-passing midfield anchored by veteran Pascal Feindouno dominating play. Guinea pressed but though Ibrahima Traore had the ball in the back of the net it did not count as he was in an offside position but the Guinea midfield was pulling strings Guinea pressed but though Ibrahima Traore had the ball in the back of the net it did not count as he was in an offside position but the Guinea midfield was pulling strings

Agyemang Emmanuel Badu broke the deadlock after 27^th minutes when he scored a brilliant goal with his right foot. The midfielder hammered a thunderbolt after setting himself up by flicking the ball with his other foot letting goal a belter that beat Moussa Naby Yattara.  Encouraged by the goal Ghana threatened Yattara’s goal and Asamoah seemed to have be stopped unfairly in the box but the referee waved the appeal away.  Andrea Ayew was soon linking up with Asamoah Kwadwo, Samuel Inkoom and Gyan creating openings in the Guinea defence. 

Ghana looked to be heading into the break with their lead intact but Abdoul Razzagui Camara had other ideas. The Guinea left winger ‘s runs down the left flank had been troubling Ghanaian defence and on the stroke of half-time Camara went on a run with captain John Panstil in close attendance released a lob of a shot that sailed over goalkeeper Larsen Kwarasey into the top left hand roof of the net.

Play in the second half picked up from where the first half finished and Guinea went close with Ismael Bangoura forcing a save from Kwarasey. Guinea pressurized further and from the resultant corner Sadio Diallo headed just over the cross bar. The Syli Nationale was throwing everything at Ghana. 

However Ghana’s array of talent was always likely to turn on the heat and Asamoah Gyan  

Guinea’s push for a winning goal suffered a setback in the 70^th minute when defender Mamadou Dioulde Bah picked up a second yellow for bringing down Kwadwo and Guinea were down to 10 men, forcing coach Michel Dussuyer to make changes. Veteran Feindouno made way and soon to follow was Ibrahim Traore. Ghana’s coach Goran Stevanovic also made changes bringing out Gyan and Ayew for Prince Tagoe and Kwame Takyi respectively. Ghana will now meet Tunisia in Franceville while Mali stays in Libreville to play co-hosts Gabon as the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations quarter final list is completed.

AFCON2012 Diphetogo“Dipsy”Selolwane–I am done with international football after this tournament

He scored Botswana’s first ever goal at the Africa Cup of Nations finals a day after he turned 34 and he has so often spoken of as the best player Botswana has produced to date.  Diphetogo “Dipsy”  Selolwane converted a penalty kick the second time round to equalise for Botswana against Guinea during an Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group D match played on 28^th January in Gabonese city of Franceville. The baby-faced player affectionately known as Dipsy spoke to Cafonline.com   and broke the news that this tournament is where it will all end for his illustrious international career with the Zebras. “l was going to hang up my boots for national team duties after our last match at Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012” said the soft spoken midfielder.

Botswana takes on Mali in their last Group D match in Libreville and although the Zebras lost their first two games they are not mathematically out of the tournament as yet.  The veteran midfielder missed first game against Ghana and having played against Guinea he will be available for selection for the Mali game and he said he would like to go out with a bang.

Dipsy  is currently playing his club football in the South African Premier Soccer League with Super Sport United and he first played for his country in 1999 has been part of the Zebras set-up ever since. “I believe l have served my country well and done my part for my country and its time for me to leave and let the emerging young talent take over. At 34 l would like to travel less as one tends to do with national team duties instead l am looking to stay at my club and fight for my place in the team and try and prolong my playing career.” said Dipsy

“It has been a privilege to play for my country and l was lucky to have long career and crown it all with an appearance at the continent’s biggest competition the Africa Cup of Nations. Against Mali we want to finish our group game on a high and show that we have talent in Botswana. We know our league back home is still at amateur level and her e we have had to contend with professional players, so it has been a learning curve for us”  

“I want to play well against Mali and thereafter will make myself available to support and assist the Zebras as they seek to make it a successive appearance at Africa Cup of Nations 2013 next year in South Africa but that will be in another capacity not as a player. I believe in this current team that we brought to these finals and l am confident coach Stanley Tshosane and the boys will do well in the quest to qualify for next year’s finals.” Concluded Dipsy.

So as Botswana lines up against Mali on the 1^st of February Dipsy will be singing the national anthem one last time in his Zebra colours ready for the swan song! All hail to a fantastic player.