AFCON2012 Trabelsi satisfied with first stage

Tunisia manager Sami Trabelsi expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance  at the group stage of the ongoing 2012 Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Trabelsi considered Group C where his side played as the group of death because apart from his team it featured co-hosts Gabon and Morocco, as well as the debutants Niger. Trabelsi said after group matches has good ideas about his team’s strength and weakness  and reckons his charges’ performance is going to improve with each game.

 

Trabelsi said his team has achieved their priority which was to qualify for the quarter finals “We achieved our goal before Gabon game when we guaranteed our qualification. We wanted to beat Gabon and win the group which was our second goal but that didn’t happen.  We dominated the game against the co-hosts but couldn’t make use of our chances”, he added.

 

“I gave the chance to some substitutes and that wasn’t because I underrated our opponents because we play every game to win, but it was risky to field some players who were vulnerable to suspension. We have in our team some good 23 players and it was an opportunity to use them too”, concluded the coach who won CHAN 2011 title with Tunisia.

 

Meanwhile the latest news from Tunisia team physiotherapist gave the manager a relief. It was confirmed that team’s goal machine Youssef Msakni’s injury was only a minor one. Msakni will join his team mates training session tomorrow as they prepare for the quarter finals clash. The talented midfielder netted twice in the group stage and also claimed the Fair Play award in the last group game against Gabon.

 

In other news Tunisia player Adel Chedli quit his team’s camp and traveled back home after the group stage concluded. Tunisian press confirmed the player’s decision to leave Gabon as he felt unwanted in the tournament after being kept out of the squad. Chedli wished his team mates good luck in the next matches, and stressed he has nothing but respect for his manager Trabelsi.

 

AFCON2012 Referees for Quarter-final matches on 4th and 5th February

Ghana v Tunisia
Officials Name Nationality
Referee/Arbitre Alioum Neant Cameroon
Assistant 1 Menkouande Evarist Cameroon
Assistant 2 Camara Djibril Senegal
4th Official/4ème Officiel Gehad Grisha Egypt

Gabon v Mali
Officials Name Nationality
Referee/Arbitre Haimoudi Djameil Algeria
Assistant 1 Achik Redouane Morocco
Assistant 2 Etchiali Abdelhaq Algeria
4th Official/4ème Officiel Daniel Bennet South Africa

Cote d’Ivoire v Guinea Equatorial
Officials Name Nationality
Referee/Arbitre Eddie Maillet Seychelles
Assistant 1 Birumushahu J.C. Burundi
Assistant 2 Kabanda Felicien Rwanda
4th Official/4ème Officiel Diatta Badara Senegal

Zambia v Sudan
Officials Name Nationality
Referee/Arbitre Gassama Bakary Gambia
Assistant 1 Damoo Jason Seychelles
Assistant 2 Ogbamariam Angessom Eritrea
4th Official/4ème Officiel Mohamed Benouza Algeria

AFCON2012 Kalaba – “It’s a very tricky game”

Rainford Kalaba has emerged the anchor of the Zambian team at the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations. The offensive midfielder, who is making his successive appearance at the finals of the tournament since 2006 talks to Cafonline.com on his role in the Chipolopolo team and their quarter final clash with Sudan on Saturday.  

 

Cafonline.com: What has been the motivation behind your explosive performance at the tournament so far?

Rainford Kalaba: I have really worked hard to be at this level. It started during the qualifiers and preparations for the final tournament. My ambition was to maintain my form and continue from where I left off in Angola two years ago.

 

Cafonline.com: What is your assessment of the performance of the Zambian team?

Rainford Kalaba: So far, we are on course. Compared to Angola two years ago, we are better coordinated and organised. It has been difficult due to several challenges. However, we are determined to achieve our goal. Our target is to reach the semi final and we are working towards it.

 

Cafonline.com: Before reaching the semi final, you have to clear the Sudan hurdle at the quarter final. How well do you know the Sudanese?

Rainford Kalaba: It’s a very trick game. They are playing very well. The journey to this stage has not been easy for us and we want to go further. We have to maintain our discipline and hope to get better.

 

Cafonline.com: Do you think you have edge of the Sudanese, who are parading a locally-based squad?

Rainford Kalaba: Not at all. That is not our mentality. In football, you can only underrate opponents at your own peril. We have to remain focus and maintain discipline.

 

Cafonline.com: What is the motivation behind your thirst for a place at the semi finals?

Rainford Kalaba: We are looking forward to reaching the semi final. For 16-years, Zambian has not played at that level. We have been working towards it and are on course. I believe we have the experience and the players to achieve that target.

 

Cafonline.com: Two years ago, you missed the quarter final due to suspension. How do you feel to be available this time?

Rainford Kalaba: It is a great feeling. In Angola, I missed the quarters and unfortunately we lost. I hope to play my part to help the team attain its objective.

 

Cafonline.com: What do you make of the standards at the tournament so far?

Rainford Kalaba: The standard has been very high. It has been very tough for all the teams. The players have exhibited a higher level of tactical and technical abilities. There have been several emerging talents at the tournament and this is a big plus for African football.

 

AFCON2012 Sudan forward Eltaib optimistic of scaling Zambian hurdle

 

Sudan forward Mudathir Eltaib has expressed optimism ahead of their quarter final clash on Saturday at the Estadio de Bata.

 

The Desert Hawks are in the last eight of the championship for the first time since 1970, but the Al-Hilal forward is upbeat of their chances of a place at the last four at the expense of the highly rated Zambians.

 

The 23-year old, whose brace against Burkina Faso proved crucial in their qualification to the knockout stage, insists they have the capacity to halt the Chipolopolos, also keen on a place at the last four for the first time since 1996.

 

The Desert Hawks edged the Palancas Negras of Angola on goal difference after both sides finished on four points apiece.

 

“I’m happy to have scored the goals that brought us this far. It was a collective effort of the playing body aided by our determination.”

 

Nicknamed after Brazilian legend ‘Careca’ for his style of playe, the lanky striker added that they are battle-ready for the encounter with the unbeaten Zambians, who qualified as the top placed team in Group A.

 

“We are very confident and the morale in our camp is very high. We are bracing up physically and mentally for the challenge. We are determined to reach the semi final and will do our best to achieve it.”

 

 The Al-Hilal forward is making his first appearance at the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

AFCON2012 Traore backs Dussuyer to stay as Guinea coach

 
Guinea forward Ibrahima Traore has thrown his weight behind Michel Dussuyer to stay on as coach despite the teams inability to make it out of the first round at the Africa Cup of Nations.
   Guinea, who upstaged Nigerias Super Eagles to qualify for the tournament, failed to reach the knockout stage of this years tournament after they finished third in Group D with four points from three matches.
   "There is nothing more to change in this team," stated VfB Stuttgart winger Traore, one of the outstanding players so far at this tournament.
   "Offensively and defensively we showed we are a good team with talented players. However, a bit of inexperience cost us in this competition because some of us were playing it for the first time.
   "When he (Dussuyer) came, there was no team in the country and we were the underdogs against Nigeria (in the final qualifier in Abuja), but he assured us that we will qualify for this Nations Cup.
   "And after a year with the team, we are now a better team with him."
   Frenchman Dussuyer says he has not talked with his bosses about his future after his team crashed out in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations.
   "We will see what happens (regarding his Guinea future). I have not discussed with the authorities and so dont know what the future holds," said Dussuyer, who is in his second spell as Guinea coach.
   "I was asked to build a good team and qualify for the Nations Cup. I have met these expectations.
   "I have re-energised the team even though we failed to reach the quarter-finals of this Nations Cup."

AFCON2012 Zahoui counting on Elephants' experience

 
Experience will be the key to Ivory Coast beating Africa Cup of Nations' co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in Saturday's quarter-final, coach Francois Zahoui believes.
   On paper this last eight fixture in Malabo is a mis-match with the number one ranked team on the continent coming up against a side rated 42 rungs below them.
   But Zahoui dismisses out of hand any suggestion that Equatorial Guinea are "weak", and he is taking nothing for granted as he plots the Ivorians' path to the semi-finals.
   "When a team makes it into the quarter-finals it's not by chance," he said.
   "What's more, they are playing at home, they are backed by their public. We respect them.
   "We expect a difficult game against a rival playing at 300 percent of its capabilities."
   Zahoui stressed there would be no room for error as the Elephants take another step towards their dream of the title.
   "We are sticking to our objective, we'll keep cool heads, and confront each opponent with the maximum of humility and respect and take another step on the path to our final objective."
   Asked to list Equatorial Guinea's weak points he countered: "The first mistake is to consider this a weak side. Against Sudan we only won 1-0.
Football's not only about technique, there's the physical condition, the tactic, the mental strength.
   "Equatorial Guinea will be very realist, very careful. They have fast strikers up front and a solid defensive block.
   "We'll have to be patient, and not get upset. The environment will be hostile.
   "But the advantage is that my boys have experience.
   "When you carry the tag of favourites it's hard. Our experience -- you can't buy that. It's priceless. We mustn't panic. We'll have up against us a team backed by their fans, and that's a not insignificant plus for them. I know we'll suffer, but what interests me is that we win."

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."