APA-Dakar (Senegal) By Ibrahima Dione – The group phase of the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON) came to a close on Wednesday evening.
With good football played on quality pitches, great entertainment in the stands, thrilling matches and a high standard of refereeing, the continental football mecca has so far lived up to all its promises. The only fly in the ointment is the fact that the stands are often sparse, mainly due to problems with ticket sales.
After 12 days of competition, the 2023 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON), already considered by some to be the best in history, has taken shape. In 36 hard-fought matches, 89 goals have been scored. That’s an average of 2.47 goals per game. It was a party, literally and figuratively.
Group A: Côte d’Ivoire miraculously saved
The host nation came back from the dead. In 1984, Côte d’Ivoire were eliminated in the first round of the Cup of Nations they hosted. That unbelievable scenario was almost repeated forty years later. The Elephants started the tournament in good spirits, with a lacklustre 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau in their opening match, before literally collapsing.
Against Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria on the second day, Serge Aurier and his team-mates bit the dust against the intelligent Super Eagles (0-1). With their backs against the wall, Côte d’Ivoire needed only a draw against Equatorial Guinea to book their place in the second round. In the end, however, they were humiliated by Nzalang Nacional (0-4) in front of their home crowd and finished third in their group.
As a result, Seko Fofana’s side no longer had their fate in their own hands. So they had to pray for favourable results in the other groups. Two painful days after the Ebimpe fiasco, Morocco’s Atlas Lions resurrected the Elephants with a narrow 1-0 win over Zambia’s Chipolopolos. They have, however, fallen down a slippery slope, occupying last place in the best third-place standings.
French coach Jean-Louis Gasset was replaced at short notice by his assistant Emerse Fae due to “insufficient results.” The former Côte d’Ivoire international will act as interim coach, assisted by Guy Demel, with whom he played for Côte d’Ivoire in the early 2000s.
Group B: Stunning Cape Verde Islands
The Blue Sharks, making their fourth appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, upset the odds in their group. They beat Ghana 2-1 with a goal from Garry Rodrigues, and Pedro Leitão Brito’s ‘Bubista’ side won the Portuguese-speaking clash with Mozambique 3-0 before drawing with Egypt 2-2 with a reshuffled team.
Finishing top of a group that included two African giants, by playing forward-looking football, is no mean feat for the Cape Verdeans of striker Ryan Mendes and defender Logan Costa.
Group C: Untouchable Senegal
The curse of the defending champions did not fall on the Lions. After a very sluggish start to the first round of the Can 2021 – five points and just one goal scored in three games – Senegal dominated the “group of death.”
Three wins in as many outings. Eight goals scored and just one conceded. All the signs are green for Kalidou Koulibaly and Co. Gambia were swept aside (3-0) in their opener. Cameroon looked as if they were going to make it through before suffering almost the same fate (3-1). Kaba Diawara’s Guinea, over-motivated by the prospect of top spot in the group were also beaten by the Lions with their sharp teeth.
Never before in the history of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which began in 1965 in Tunisia, had Senegal achieved such a feat in the group phase. Aliou Cisse’s side, who are aiming to retain the trophy, look more formidable than their Cameroon counterparts, with Lamine Camara shining brightly in their blend of experience and youth.
Group D: Algeria fall back into their old ways
Djamel Belmadi’s time on the Fennecs bench is over. Algeria’s would-be coach was unable to survive his third disappointment after a deserved triumph at the 2019 FIFA World Cup South Africa? As at the previous edition in Cameroon, Riyad Mahrez and his team-mates sank to the depths.
While there was clearly some improvement in the game, the results failed to live up to the expectations of a football-mad nation. Algeria dominated Angola in the first half of their opener, but broke down in the second half to share the points (1-1).
Against Burkina Faso (2-2), in the redemption match, they owed their salvation to Baghdad Bounedjah, who scored against the Palancas Negras and scored twice that day. Despite everything, the equation remained simple for the Fennecs: a win or even a draw against Mauritania would open the door to the Round of 16.
But Mohamed Dellah Yaly’s strike from a corner sent Algeria’s hopes crashing like a house of cards. The Murabitounes, taking all three points for the very first time at the Can, will continue their adventure. After yesterday’s triumph, Belmadi has now been condemned to obscurity.
Group E: Namibia make history
The Brave Warriors caused a sensation by winning 1-0 over Tunisia thanks to a close-range header from supersonic winger Deon Hotto Kavendji. Namibia, soundly beaten by South Africa (0-4), then came down from their clouds.
Losing to Mali on the final day was no longer an option. It would have undermined the Brave Warriors’ magnificent work. Captain Peter Shalulile and his team therefore outdid themselves to neutralise Eric Sekou Chelle’s Eagles (0-0) and secure a historic qualification for the next round.
Group F: Morocco on target
The Atlas Lions were touted as the overwhelming favourites for the 2023 FIFA World Cup before the tournament kicked off, on the back of their superb run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Without necessarily dominating their opponents, Morocco did the job with two wins and a draw. Tanzania, who lost three games to nil, were the team that did the least to upset the system put in place by Walid Regragui.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, and to a lesser extent Zambia, showed Africa the limitations of the Atlas Lions. Their coach received a four-match suspension, two of which were suspended, for shaking hands with the Congolese player Chancel Mbemba, which led to scuffles at the end of the game.
Group standings :
Group A: 1 Equatorial Guinea 7 pts (+6), 2 Nigeria 7 pts (+2), 3 Côte d’Ivoire 3 pts (-3), 4 Guinea Bissau 0 pts (-5).
Group B: 1 Cape Verde 7 pts (+4), 2 Egypt 3 pts (0), 3 Ghana 2 pts (-1), 4 Mozambique 2 pts (-3).
Group C: 1 Senegal 9 pts (+7), 2 Cameroon 4 pts (-1), 3 Guinea 4 pts (-1), 4 Gambia 0 pts (-5).
Group D: 1. Angola 7 pts (+3), 2. Burkina Faso 4 pts (-1), 3. Mauritania 3 pts (-1), 4. Algeria 2 pts (-1).
Group E: 1. Mali 5 pts (+2), 2. South Africa 4 pts (+2), 3. Namibia 4 pts (-3), 4. Tunisia 2 pts (-1).
Group F: 1. Morocco 7 pts (+4), 2. DR Congo 3 pts (0), 3. Zambia 2 pts (-1), 4. Tanzania 2 pts (-3)
Round of 16 schedule (in Universal Time)
Saturday 27 January 2024
Angola-Namibia, 5 p.m., Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
Nigeria-Cameroon, 8 p.m., Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
Sunday 28 January 2024
Equatorial Guinea-Guinea, 5 p.m., Stade Alassane Ouattara, Abidjan.
Egypt – DR Congo, 8pm, Laurent Pokou stadium, San Pédro.
Monday 29 January 2024
Cape Verde – Mauritania, 5pm, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
Senegal – Côte d’Ivoire, 8pm, Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro.
Tuesday 30 January 2024
Mali – Burkina Faso, 5pm, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo.
Morocco – South Africa, 8pm, Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro.
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