All Trinis supporters
You are all invited to a true Trini lime on Sunday June 1st to witness the big clash between T&T and England at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in T&T. The lime starts at 8p.m. until to 2p.m.at the Sports Bar, Haymarket near Trafalgar Square. There will be Trini food, music etc. Come and enjoy a good evening and see our Soca Warriors in action.
Kick off is 10.30 p.m.
AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS
EGYPT ARE THE BEST TEAM, AND THEY WIN
IT IS A RECORD SIXTH VICTORY
Egypt settle in control
Ghana take third place
Egypt, the best team in the competition – and the defending champions, beat Cameroon 1-0 in Accra to win the African Cup of Nations: it was their (record) sixth win. Cameroon came only rarely close to challenging their opponents. In the goal-less first half goalkeeper Carlos Kameni kept the Egyptians at bay: he pushed away a 35 yards shot from Mohamed Aboutrika in the 13th minute and later parried a shot by Emad Moteab for Aboutrika to blast the rebound wide. Amr Zaki and Abd-Rabou tested Kameni again in the second half as Egypt settled into control. Hosni Abd-Rabou hit the post in the 61 minute and then in the 77th minute Mohamed Zidan took advantage of a defensive error by Rigobert Song to push the ball across the line on the goal for Aboutrika to score from 15 yards out. It was the 99th goal of this year’s competition. There would be no 100th as the Cameroonians lacked the discipline to turn their later attack to advantage.
Ghana won third place in the competition by beating Ivory Coast 4-2. Sulley Muntari’s opening goal for the hosts in the 10th minute was matched by Boubacar Sanogo’s equaliser – Sanogo then put the Ivorians 2-1 ahead at the interval. Qunicy Owusu-Abeyie put Ghana back on level terms, but then Junior Agogo edged them ahead at 3-2 in the 80th minute and Hamanu Draman’s 25 yards shot in the 85th minute sealed victory.
IT’S CAMEROON AGAINST EGYPT IN THE FINAL
A RUNAWAY VICTORY AGAINST ALL PREDICTION
Goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari – magnificent
Triumph for teamwork over individual flair
Cameroon played the better tactical game to beat hosts Ghana 1-0 at Accra and qualify for the Final on Sunday. There was little to choose between the two teams. Nevertheless Ghana seemed to have the edge, but their attacks were broken by tight Cameronian defence based around Rigobert Song. Too many passes went astray and chances missed in the first half. Achille Emana for Cameroon shot just over the bar in the 21st minute and in the 38th minute a long dipping 25 yards kick by Geremie hit the top of the bar with goalkeeper Richard Kingson out of position. From a goal-less first half Ghana picked up the tempo after the interval. Yet Cameroon withstood the attack of Anthony Annan shooting close from 25 yards and John Paintsil heading wide. Substitute Alain Nkong put Cameroon ahead in the 71st minute. He ran on to a pass from Samuel Eto’o which was initiated by Jean Epalle. The move stimulated the Ghanaians even more to seek an equaliser, but goalkeeper Carlos Kameni saved from Junior Agogo. The latter missed also with a header in the 81st minute. With the match coming to a close Andre Bikey pushed a medical official to the ground – it earned him a red card and he will miss the Final. Cameroon, however, are on course for a record-equalling fifth title following their successes in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002.
Defending champions Egypt crushed tournament-favourites the Ivory Coast 4-1 to win a place in the Final against Cameroon, over whom they hold a 4-2 victory in the qualifying round, on Sunday. It was a triumph for team-work over individual flair. Whereas Egyptian goal-keeper Essam Al-Hadari played magnificently his counterpart Boubcar Barry had to be substituted after first half injury by inexperienced Stephan Loboue. Ahmed Fathi put Egypt 1-0 ahead by capitalising on the Ivorians’ failure to clear a corner in the 12th minute. For either side Didier Drogba and Mohamed Aboutrika came close to scoring. The game was still ocntested tightly when Barry went off in the 37th minute. Nevertheless the Ivory Coast came close to equalising on the stroke of half time: Drogba’s powerful header hit Al-Hadari’s body and Hosni Abd Rabou cleared before Aruna Dindane could follow up. The goalkeeper frustrated Drogba again at the start of the second half. The Ivorian pressure was almost unbearable and Al_hadari punched Arthur Boka’s inswingingfree kick over the bar. Then in a more rare Egyptian attack from off the cross-bar Amr Zaki converted Ahmed Hassan’s corner to put his team 2-0 up in the 62nd minute. Now the Ivory coast struck back immediately. Less than a minute later Kader Keita hammered the ball home from 25 yards to pull a goal back at 2-1. In the 67th minute Zaki took advantage of Kolo Toure turning his back on the ball to put Egypt 3-1 up. In stoppage time Mohamed Aboutrika completed what – against all prediction – had been a runaway victory.
CAMEROON AND EGYPT COMPLETE SEMI-FINAL PLACES
TUNISIA TAKE CAMEROON INTO EXTRA TIME
Free kicks superbly taken
Skill and experience
Cameroon left it late – very late – before they qualified for the Semi-finals (with a match against Ghana) in beating Tunisia 3-2 in Tamale with a goal in extra time. Outplayed for much of the early part of the match Tunisia came tantalisingly close to success. Cameroon looked dangerous from the start and there was little surprise when Stephane Mbia headed a pass from Alexandre Song into an empty net to put the West Africans ahead in the 18th minute. Ten minutes later Geremi curled a free kick superbly over the defensive wall into the right-hand corner of the goal for Cameroon to go 2-0 ahead. Tunisia seemed to be on their way out of the competition, but Ben Saada pulled a goal back with a free kick which matched that of Geremie in style and excellence. Shortly afterwards in the 41st minute a shot from Dos Santos, which might well have levelled the scores, rebounded from the crossbar. Ben Saada hammered the rebound which goalkeeper Kameni saved with a magnificent reflex action. Tunisia 1-2 down started the second half with much purpose. Cameroon seemed to be content to guard their lead while striking on in dangerous raids which almost brought further success as Rahdi Jaidi ony just prevented Samuel Eto’o from breaking through in the 71st minute. Yassine Chikhaoui raised Tunisia’s fading hopes with a direct shot to draw level at 2-2 in the 81st minute. And so the score remained at full time – though Cameroon could have made the game safe if Jean Epalle had arrived earlier to meet Mohammadou Idrissou’s pass across the goal. Three minutes into extra time Mbia flicked Epalle’s pass into the net for the decisive goal. Tunisia maintained the pressure but their chance had gone.
Defending champions Egypt proceeded through the Semi-Finals – where they will meet the Ivory Coast – by beating Angola 2-1 in Kumasi. The determined Angolans could not match their opponents greater skill and experience. Both teams started cautiously. The Egytians grew in confidence and from their pressure forced a penalty as Andre Macanga handled in the area in the 20th minute. Tempers seemed likely to boil over as some Angolan layers jostled the Japanese referee. Hosny Abd Rabou, however, remained cool to score from the spot. The Angolans settled down for Manucho to square accounts with a thundering shot for 25 yards in the 27th minute. Eleven minutes later Kali failed to clear and Amr Zaki met the ball with his chest to put Egypt 2-1 ahead. Angola refused to concede and within minutes of the start of the second half Manucho headed wide a pass from Flavio. In a pulsating session Manucho continued to threaten, and Egyptian attacks were frustrated by missed chances and by goalkeeper Lama.
GHANA SEE OFF NIGERIAN CHALLENGE
IVORY COAST DEMOLISH GUINEA
Ghana’s individual initiative off-sets disadvantage
Ivory Coast unleash full power in closing minutes
Ghana, who have improved progressively in every match, beat Nigeria by 2-1 at Accra in what has been the best and most exciting match of the tournament to date. The result was in doubt right until the final whistle. The Ghanaians were well served by the initiative which survived the team being reduced to 10 men when captain John Mensah was sent off for a foul in the 60th minute. Both sides had scoring chances in the first half and Yakubu put Nigeria ahead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after he had been brought down by Eric Addo. It was a disappointment to Ghana who seemed to have had the better of the early action with Asamoah Gyan hitting the post. The hosts equalled the score at 1-1 with the last move of the first half – Michael Essien headed home from Owusu’s pass. Three minutes into the second half Uche made an astonishing 40 yards lob which Ghanaian goalkeeper Kingson running bsckwards only just tipped over the bar. Ghana were inspired by the home crowd, but seemed to have forfeit the advantage when Mensah was sent off. The Nigerian advantage in numbers seemed to work against them as their huddles of forwards failed to capitalise on their chances. In the 82nd minute Muntari sent the ball across to Junior Agogo at the far post who scored from four yards.
Title favourites Ivory Coat crushed under-strength Guinea 5-0 – and it could have been so much more. Seemingly content to rest on a one-goal advantage for much of the match the Ivorians only unleashed their full power in the closing minutes. Guinea held their own in a comparatively quiet to the game which lacked the intensity of the earlier Ghana/Nigeria clash. However in the 25th minute Kader Keita gave the Ivory Coast control by scoring from inside the box with goalkeeper Kemoko Camara out of position. The latter made some amends just before half-time by saving a shot from Aruna Dindane and keeping out Salomon Kalou’s follow-up on the rebound, and almost immediately kept out a drive from Didier Drogba. Ivory Coast kept their 1-0 lead until well into the second half. Daoda Jabi’s close call with a free kick showed that Guinea were not yet out of contention. The tension seemed to be telling as Dindane missed an open goal. Some 20 minutes before the close Drogba set the captain’s example by scoring easily after an exchange of passes with Arthur Boka. Two minutes later Kalou seemed to stroll around the goalkeeper and walked the ball into the net. The fight was now knocked out of Guinea and in the 81st minute the Ivorian forwards attacked on a broad front for Bakary Yone to pass to Yaya Toure on to Kalou who completed the goal. Kone completed the rout with a powerful shot from outside the area into the top corner.
THEY DIDN’T SCORE BUT TUNISIA AND ANGOLA GO THROUGH
A POINTLESS DRAW IS THE TOURNAMENT’S MOST ENTERTAINING MATCH
Tunisia and Angola slow the pace
Coundul frustrates South Africa
The 0-0 draw between Tunisia and Angola at Tamale was sufficient for both teams to progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Armine Chertmiti tested the Angolan goalkeeper and defence several times in the first half. He forced a save from Lama in the 16th minute and shortly afterwards headed wide with the goal open. Angola had fewer chances but Ze Kalanga picked up a pass from Rui Marques and hit goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui from 15 yards. Kasraoui also cut out a threat from Manucho. Just before the interval Lama parried a 30 yards drive from Kamel Zaiem. For a while in the second half the teams slowed the pace. In injury time, however, Flavio hit a tame shot at the goalkeeper.
Senegal and South Africa played one of the most entertaining matches in a 1-1 draw in Kumasi, but it was not enough for either team to go any further in the competition. Under-dogs South Africa took an unexpected lead through Elrio van Heerden, whose earlier claim for a penalty after being brought down by Souleymane Diawara was turned down, hitting home a cross from Teko Modise in the 14th minute. Thus encouraged Sibusiso Zuma came close to adding a second after a run from the half-way line. The southerners’ advantage was off-set by Henri Camara capitalising on a defensive error by Aaron Mokoena to score in the 37th minute. Mamadou Niang then struck the ball straight at goalkeeper Josephs. South Africa started the second half strongly with Zuma and Siphiwe Tashabalala leading the way. The latter shot wide in the 56th minute. Senegal owed much to goalkeeper Bouna Coundul who defied Zuma with a brilliant save – later he saved spectacularly also from substitute Lerato Chabangu and Kagisho Dikgacoi. Papa Waigo’s diving header, just wide, was matched by Tshabalala hitting the post in injury time as the teams strove for the elusive deciding goal.
ETO’O SETS NEW RECORD
CAMEROON AND EGYPT GO THROUGH
Eto’o came close to scoring again
Zambia frantic for last-minute winner
Samuel Eto’o’s achievement in setting a new record for the most goals scored in the history of the African Cup of Nations was the highlight of Cameroon’s expected 3-0 victory over Sudan. The victors now proceed to the quarter-finals. Samuel’s first attempt to break Laurent Okou’s record, which he had equalled in the previous match, was failed by his failure to follow up on goalkeeper Mahjoub El Moez’ partial save of his shoty. Sudan’s frustration led to the use of illegal tactics and Youswef Alaeldin ceded a penalty for pulling down Achille Emana. Eto’o scored cleanly from the spot to set the new record in the 27th minute. Six minutes later Mohammed Ali Khider turnmed the ball into his own net to put Cameroon 2-0 ahead. The Sudanese showed greater spirit and application early in the second half but were thwarted by goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni. Yet again Eto’o came close to scoring on a breakaway. In stoppage time Joel Epalle passed to Eto’o who scored his second goal of the match.
Egypt’s greater skill in front of goal and finishing expertise always held the advantage of Zambia at Kumasi in spite of sharing the territorial possession and eventually the 1-1 draw. Even so Egypt looked confident in going in to the quarter-finals. Zambia, more confident and effective than they were against Cameron, made the early running. Jacob Mulenga soon tested goalkeeper Essem Al-Hadri with a shot from 20 yards. Yet Egypts goal in the 14th minute showed their mastery. Ahmed Fathi befuddled the Zambian defence, passed across the penalty area to Sayed Moawad, from whose pass Amr Zakri shot home left-handed at close range. Another attack from Hosni Abd Rabou struck goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene. Egypt started the second half confidently but could not capitalise on three good chances at goal. In the 88th minute Chris Katongo squared the score. Zambia’s frantic finale to score an unexpected winning goal was unsuccessful.
IMPRESSIVE NIGERIA AND RESURGENT NIGERIA QUALIFY
MISSED CHANCES AS MALI LET QUALIFICATION SLIP FROM THEM
Nigeria regain their elan
Mali are listless in closing stages
Nigeria got their act together in time to qualify for the quarter-finals by beating Benin 2-0 in Sekondi (allowing them to edge out Mali on goal difference). Hitherto goalless in the competition the Nigerians threw everything into an attacking approach. Nevertheless the Benin defence was able to foil their new found enthusiasm and elan throughout the first half which ended without a goal being scored. Shortly after the interval, however, as goalkeeper Chitou Rachad failed to handle a 30-yards free kick from Taiwo and Osaze Odemwingie seized the opportunity to make the pass from which John Obi Mikel opened the scoring with a header in the 52nd minute. Uche came close to adding to the score and substitute Obinna Nsofor headed against the bar. The latter also shot wide from close range. In the 86th minute Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored from a pass by Mikel. Benin’s long shots were unable to upset the result.
Ivory Coast maintained their impressive and beat Mali 3-0 to put the latter out of the competition. After 10 minutes Yaya Toure laid on the pass from which Didier Drogba put the Ivorians 1-0 ahead. They kept up the pressure and eight minutes later substitute Marc Zoro headed wide from close range. Although Dramane Troure came close to heading an equaliser Mali failed to make any impression on the Ivory Coast whose defence closed down all attacking attempts. Knowing that their continued presence in the competition depended as much on Nigeria’s performance as their own Mali had the occasional flashes of incision and Seydou Keita’s 25 yards free kick brought the best out of goalkeeper Boubacar Barry. Yet they went further behind from Zoro’s heading home from Tiene’s corner to make in 2-0 in the 54th minute. Drogba had a header cleared from the line and saw goalkeeper Sidibe frustrate a further attempt. Traore headed a Keita against the bar for Mali but they could not score the one goal which would have kept them in the tournament. They became increasingly listless and substitute Boubacar Sanogo tied up the match for the Ivory Coast by scoring from a rebound in the 86th minute.
GHANA AND GUINEA GO THROUGH
EDGINESS AND MISSED CHANCES
Ghana pick up their performance
Guinea do enough to qualify
Ghana, picking up from a quiet start to the tournament, progressed to the section round by beating Morocco by 2-0 at the Ohene Djan Stadium. Both goals came in the first half. Sulley Muntari had one free kick from 30 yards parried away by goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri and, then, in the 26th minute set up the move which led to the opening goal. Instead of blasting another free kick straight at goal he chipped the ball over the defensive wall for Michael Essien to score. That success seemed to settle the hitherto nervous Ghanaians. An apparent own goal by John Pantsil shortly afterwards was not given. On the stroke of half-time Essien took the ball from the half-way line and passed to Muntari who completed the goal. After easing down the pace early in the second half the Ghanaians came on strongly in the closing stages against a Morocco team which played below its best capability.
Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the tournament after drawing 1-1 with Namibia at Sekondi. The victors knew before the game started that they needed only a draw to progress. Nevertheless they played with purpose and Ismael Bangoura came close to scoring in the first minute. Shortly afterwards Daouda Jabi forced a fine ave from goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha. Namibia were not outclassed and Muna Katupose headed over the bar with the goal open. Both sides had several close chances to score – perhaps the closest being Souleymane Youla’s miss just before half-time. Nerves, it seems, played its part in the proceedings. With so many missed chances it came as a surprise when Youla turned a pass from Mamadou Dioulde Bah into the goal in the 62nd minute. The Guinea defence clamped down the Namibian forwards until Brian Brendell brought the scores level in the 81st minute by latching on to a poor back-pass, beating the defence and shooting past goalkeeper Kemeko Camara.
ANGOLA, TUNISIA, SENEGAL
ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THEIR GROUP
Angola turn tables on Senegal
Game as god as over by half-time
Angola showed cohesion and control to come from behind and beat Senegal 3-1 at Tamale in what has been probably the most skilful and balanced match of the tournament so far. Both teams had their chances at goal before Abdoulaye Faye opened the scoring for Senegal in the 20th minute by heading home a head-on by Souleymane Diawara from El-Hadji Diouf’s free-kick with goalkeeper out of position. The West Africans had the advantage of the first half- Frederic Mendy missed a chance to put his team further ahead and close to the interval he forced goalkeeper Luis Joao to make a fine save.
Angola turned the tables in the second half. Manucho put them on equal terms by heading a pass from Nsimba Baptista past goalkeeper Tony Sylva in the 50th minute. The Sengalese defence became less disciplined. When Mamadou Niang failed narrowly to put his team ahead again, Kamara and Maurito turned the pressure on the other end of the field. With several players milling on the goal-line Sylva’s punch failed to clear the ball from a corner-kick and Manucho steered it over the line in the 67th minute. Flavio completed the triumph by heading the third goal from a cross by Yamba Asha in the 76th minute.
Tunisia impressed in beating South Africa 3-1 at Tamale. They struck early through Francileudo Dos Santos hitting home a pass from Ben Saada in the 8th minute. Before South Africa could settle to an effective attack Dos Santos hit the post with a diving header and Ben Saada scored from the rebound in the 32nd minute. Two minutes later the game was as good as over – Dos Santos taking advantage of a poor back-pass from Nasief Morris to score Tunisia’s third. Morris’ attempt to make amends shortly afterwards hit the crossbar. In the second half the South Africans tried (in vain) to strike back with some long-range shots at goal. Yassine Ckikaoui put Dos Santos to complete his hat-trick but he missed an open goal. Steven Pienaar came closest to scoring for South Africa: in the 87th minute he beat three defenders and passed to substitute Katlegi Mphela to score the consolation goal.
Angola, Tunisia and Senegal all have the same chance of progressing to the next round of the competition from their next matches – but only two can make it.
ETO’O EQUALLS COMPETITION RECORD
ATTACKS STILL TRIUMPH OVER DEFENCE
Poor Zambian defence punished by Cameroon
Egypt progress against uninspired Sudan
Cameroon overwhelmed pathetic Zambian defence to win 5-1 at Kumasi. The match was contested up-front more evenly than the scoreline would indicate. Both sides had early chances and Cameroon took the lead in the 28th minute as Geremi hit a free-kick into the undefended left side of the goal with the Zambian defence and goalkeeper guarding the other way. Four minutes later the same defenders resembled a comedy of errors as they missed headers and attempted clearances allowing Joseph Desire Job to ease the ball into the net. In the 40th minute Samuel Eto’o came closer to adding a third with a volley which almost shaved the bar. Another mix-up in the defence in the 44th minute gave Achille Emana scope to elude helpless goalkeeper Mweene to take Cameroon into the interval at 3-0.
Zambia came out with greater purpose in the second half. Eto’o shot firmly into the Zambian defensive wall striking Billy Mwanza’s dangling arm. From the spot he scored the goal in the 66th minute which equalled the record tally in the competition by Laurent Pokou of the Ivory Coast. In spite of the goals the Zambian forwards were giving their opponents a testing time – Mulenga hit the bar and Hachilensa’s shot was cleared from the line. Yet the defence fell apart yet again in the 82nd minute with Clive Hachilensa heading the ball straight to the feet of Job who strolled into the net with the ball to put Cameroon 5-0 ahead. Chris Katongo, who had led Zambia’s penetrative attacks, scored consolation, and well—deserved goal in the 90th minute.
Egypt maintained their impressive progress by beating Sudan 3-0 in Kumasi. The victors were rarely challenged in a generally uninspiring match. Egypt built up their advantage slowly. Indeed, if anything, Sudan had the more chances until goalkeeper Elmuez Mugoub brought down Hosny Abd Rabou in the penalty area in the 29th minute, and the same player scored from the spot. Egypt seemed content to contain the Sudanese who were let down by poor finishing. Substitute Mohammed Aboutrika enlivened the final stages by taking a pass from Amr Zaki and scoring with his second attempt in the 78th minute. Then he ran on from a pass by Abd Rabou, sent the goalkeeper diving the wrong way, and scored from a narrow angle in the 83rd minute.
IVORY COAST BLITZ BENIN
NIGERIANS FACE EARLY EXIT
Drogba inspires one-sided victory
Without flash of individual aspiration
Ivory Coast, quickly emerging as the tournament’s favourites, blitzed Benin 4-1 in a one-sided match at the Sekondi Sports Stadium, and the margin would have been much higher if their finishing had been better. Captain Didier Drogba played an important part in three of the goals and set up another early in the match which Aruna Dindane missed with an open target. Benin looked dangerous in their occasional breaks from defence. In the 40th minute Droga fastenmed on to a pass from Yaya Toure to open the scoring. Just before the stroke of half-time Toure passed through the defence and from left of the posts sent the ball across the ball across the face of the goal for his brother Kolo to score the second in the 44th minute. Almost immediately afterwards Kolo Toure was taken off for a strained groin.
The pressure told on the Benin defence in the second half. Kader Keita icked up on an error to score the Ivory Coast’s third goal in the 52nd minute. Dindane made amends for his earlier errors by heading passed goalkeeper Chitou for the fourth goal in the minute. Benin did not lessen their endeavour – having their best patch just before the closing whistle. Just seconds before the close Razak Omatoyossi, who had threatened several times to score, headed past goalkeeper Bouibacar Barry for a consolation goal.
Nigeria’s progress is turning towards disillusion when they failed to score in a 0-0 draw with Mali at the Sekondi Sports Stadium. They had few direct chances and even Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s “goal” in the 75th minutes was ruled offside. Mali put their opponents under early pressure. The match was tied tightly by the superiority of the midfield play based around Mikel Obi and Mohamed Sissoko respectively. Mali continued to force the pressure in the second half. This was the first match in the tournament to date without a flash of individual inspiration bringing a goal. As the game came towards its close Seydou Keita hit the Nigerian crossbar but Freddie Kanoute hit the rebound wide.
GOALS AND ERRORS
FEINDOUNO SENT OFF
Guinea get the better of Morocco
Ghana tame enthusiastic Namibia
Guinea overcame Morocco by 3-2 goals at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra in a match marked by both further fine individual performance and error. Pascal Feindouno, Guinea’s captain, excelled at both – he scored two goals and was sent off. He scored first in the 11th minute from a free kick which curled over the defence wall and caught goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami napping. Kemoko Camara in the Guinea goal brought off an excellent save to deny Youssef Hadji the chance of equalising. Guinea seemed to have the match in hand at 1-0 at the interval.
Although Hadji pressed the attack early in the second half, Guinea went further ahead in the 59th minute as Feindouno laid on the pass from which Ismael Bangura scored Guinea’s second goal. Almost before the celebrations had died down substitute Hicham Aboucherouane, unchallenged by the defence, sent the ball flying into the Guinea goal from way out in the 60th minute. Goalkeeper Camara appeared to be rooted to the spot. When Souleymane Youla was pulled down just inside the penalty area, Feindouno scored from the spot in the 63rd minute to put Guinea 3-1 ahead. Three minutes later he was sent off for kicking El-Armine Erbate. Morocco fought with renewed vigour against the 10-man opposition, and in the final minute Abdeslem Ouaddou headed a second goal.
Later at the same ground hosts Ghana made almost sure of proceeding to the next round of the tournament by beating Namibia 1-0. The South-west Africans put up a stiffer resistance than expected and missed several chances to score. Indeed Brian Brendell had the earliest shot at goal but shot wildly and wide. Asamoah Gyan showed that Ghana, too, were capable of missing their opportunities. In the 41st minute Michael Essien passed to Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in the penalty area who hit the ball on to Junior Agogo who scored from just 6 yards out. The second half was comparatively tame as the Namibians wasted their chances in front of goal and the Ghanaian attacks broke down before reaching a position from which they could shoot.
THE STUNNING GOALS KEEP COMING
BUT ARE CANCELLED OUT IN TWO DRAWS
Traoui snatches draw for Tunisia
South Africa halts Angolan drive
Mejdi Traoui’s thunderous shot from 25 yards out seven minutes from time, the best of several excellent long-distance goals already n the tournament, gave Tunisia a 2-2 against Senegal against the run of play at the Tamale Sports Stadium. Yet the Tunisians, who had survived a battering from the Senegalese forwards, took the lead from Issam Jooma’s well-taken goal in the 9th minute. He confused the opposition by exchanging passes with Wissem Bekri and shot home from a tight angle.The North Africans seemed to have weathered the storm until Rahdi Jaidi deflected the ball to Moustapha Sall who equalised with the last shot of the first half.
Senegal maintained the assault at the start of the second half, and several times came close to scoring. Mamadou Niang threatened from just outside of the penalty area either side of the interval. From a scramble in the Tunisian goal, when the defenders played their opponents onside, Diomany Kamara scored to put Senegal 2-1 ahead. They had enough of the play to suggest that they would win – then Traoui snatched the equaliser.
Angola’s much-touted drive to the trophy was halted by Elrio van Heerden late goal from 20 yards out which gave South Africa a share of the honours at 1-1 in the Tamale Sports Stadium. The goal followed an earlier scare when the ball spun back over the line from Goalkeeper Lama’s punched clearance from Aaron Mokena – but the attempt was declared to be off-side. Both teams forced the pace in an entertaining first half, in which Lama saved a 30 yards shot from Teko Modise and Moneeb Josephs saved similarly from Flavio. Angola went ahead in the 30th minute – Manucho completing a flwing movement by heading home spectacularly. South African forced the pace in the second half, while leaving themselves open to an Angolan counter-attack. Flavio brought a further fine save (with his feet) from Josephs.
INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE BY EGYPTIANS
FASTEST GOAL OF TOURNAMENT TO DATE
Egypt stuns Cameroon
Sudan miss out to Zambia
Defending champions Egypt maintained he tournament’s early reputation for individual excellence as Mohamed Zidan scored twice brilliantly in the first half to unsettle and stun Cameroon into 4-0 defeat at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. He struck after Hosni Abd Rabou had already given his side the lead by scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Andre Bikey had handled. The Egyptians swarmed over their opponents from the start with Mohamed Shawky coming close to scoring in the 3rd minute. In the 17th minute Zidan broke from his own half, exchanged passes with Emad Moteab, and it the ball home before the Cameroonians knew what was happening. His second goal – in the stoppage time of the first half – was even more wspectacular: he chested down the ball outside the penalty and goalkeeper Carlos Kameni had no chance to save.
Coming out 0-3 down Cameroon provided stiffer opposition in the second half. Samuel Eto’o headed home a cross from Geremi in the 51st minute and almost scored again 12 minutes later. The Egyptians were forced to hold on for their advantage. Their tactics paid off when Abd Rabou blasted the ball into the goal from 25 yards out in the 82nd minute. There was no time for Cameroon to come back into contention, but Eto’o scored a consolation penalty goal after a defender had handled, in stoppage time.
Zambia eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sudan before a substantial crowd at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. James Chamanga, exchanging passes with Jacob Mulenga, set the pattern by scoring in the 3rd minute – the fastest goal of the tournament so far, after which the Sudanese failed to equalise in several attacks on the goal. Badreldin El Doud came closest by hitting the inside of the post in the 12th minute. Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was out of position as Alaeldin Ahmed Gibril missed an open goal in the 30th minute.
Zambia, under pressure for much of the first half, turned their 1-0 advantage at the interval into a more decisive position with Jacob Mulenga heading home in the 51th minute after Clive Hachilensa had hit the crossbar. Nine minutes later – with goalkeeper Mahjoub El Moez only parrying Rainford Kalaba’s shot, Felix Katongo scored the third from close range. El Moez made amends by saving spectacularly from Mulenga shortly afterwards.
KALOU STRIKES FOR IVORY COAST
ALLOUDI – FIRST HAT-TRICK OF TOURNAMENT
Ivory Coast have edge on ragged Nigerians
Morocco hammer outclassed Namibia
Salomon Kalou’s strike in the 66th minute settled this match in favour of the Ivory Coast against Nigeria before 20,000 spectators at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium. Until then both teams, among the pre-tournament favourites, seemed to be too anxious to score and snatched at their chances when controlled running and passing was likely to be more effective. In a scoreless first-half the Nigerians had the edge in the running and shooting – Taiwo hitting the woodwork of the goal – but their opponents showed the greater purpose.
Yet one superb individual effort cancelled out everything that had gone before. Kalou ran through the ragged Nigerian defence, beating three players with pace and turn, and shot home with right foot. Shortly before that Nigerian goalkeeper Austin Ejide had saved from Kolo Toure’s shot in the crowded penalty area. Kalou’s goal apart, however, the match did not measure up to the expectations of a contest between some of the best footballers in the top English and French divisions.
Soufiane Alloudi scored the first hat-trick of the tournament as Morocco pummelled minnows Namibia 5-1 before a disappointing attendance of 2,000 at the Accra National Stadium. In only the 2nd minute he tapped home the ball which had bounced off the post from a shot by Marouane Chamakh. Three minutes later he picked up a pass from Youssef Hadji to hit home his second goal. The frail Namibian defence could well have ceded further goals in the torrid opening moments. As it was, however, Brian Brendell cut the deficit to 1-2 with a goal at close range in the 23rd minute.
The South-west Africans’ joy was short-lived as Alloudi completed his hat-trick by heading home a cross from Tarik Sektioui in the 28th minute – followed 11 minutes later by Sektioui scoring from the penaty spot after Michael Basser had been brought down. The teams went in to half-time at 4-1 to Morocco. By sides had chances to score in the second half before Monsef Zerka made victory certain by heading home from a corner by Yousssef Mokhtari.
A penalty by Frederic Kanoute in the 49th minute – after he, himself, had been brought down by Alain Gaspoz - delivered Mali victory by 1-0 over Benin in front of 20,000 spectators at the Sekondi-Takoradi-Stadium. It was a comparatively lacklustre match, the start of which was delayed by the failure of the floodlights as Vice-President Aliu Mahama was greeting the players.
AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS - PREVIEW
English Premiership may well be decided in Africa
The English football Premiership, and national championships in much of Europe, may well be decided in Africa. It matters to them little or nothing which team wins the Cup of Nations but which players will be there – because if they are playing for their countries in Ghana they cannot be elsewhere overseas playing for their professional clubs So integral have the African footballers become to the English game that their very absence will make their fans’ hearts beat faster. None of the front-runners for the Premiership – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the Manchester teams United and City – will escape unaffected and the two London teams will be impeded seriously.
At the time of writing it is not possible to be comprehensive in assessing individual cases – not all of the national teams have been chosen yet, there are still six week of competitive club matches in which injuries can be sustained, clubs currently out of the leading positions may come into contention, and from the far side of Christmas and the New Year the competition still seems deceptively far away. Nevertheless whatever the individual contributions may be it is appropriate now to pay tribute to the influence of Africans on English football.
Michael Essien of the host country, Ghana, and now with Chelsea, is probably the best-known African footballer currently playing in England. He was born in Accra on 3rd December 1982 and began his career with local club Liberty Professionals. Essien attracted the attention of European scouts by his performance in the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championships in New Zealand. After a time with Bastia in Corsica and the leading French team Lyon he signed with Chelsea in 2005, following the footsteps of Accra compatriot Marc Desailly. Appropriately Essien made his debut for the Ghana senior team in the African Nations Cup of 2002. He was deemed to be his country’s best player in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where, he said, the team had gained invaluable experience which would stand them in good stead when the World Cup is contested in South Africa in 2010.
Team-mate strike Didier Drogba, the club’s all-time highest-scorer international, is equally pivotal to Chelsea’s fortunes. The current African Player of the Year – for which he beat fellow-nominee Essien - and former French Footballer of the Year was born in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on 11th March 1978 and spent much of his early years living in France. He came to Chelsea from Marseille in 2004. After playing a key role in his country qualifying for the competition Drogba was captain of Cote d’Ivoire in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Before that, however, Didier, who had made his international debut against South Africa in 2002, had led Cote d’Ivoire to their second African Cup of Nations Final in February 2006, in which they were beaten by Egypt only on penalties.
Any loss to Chelsea by the loss of Essien and Droga would be off-set by the absence to Arsenal of Kolo Toure. Central defender Toure was born in Sokoura Bouake in the Cote d’Ivoire on 19th March 1981. He was still playing for African side ASEC Mimosas when he made his international debut against Rwanda as a teenager in 2000. Four years later Toure joined Arsenal where his play has been marked by strength, pace and barnstorming runs through the opposition defence. His reliability in the Ivorian team is matched by the leadership potential he has shown to his less experienced colleagues at Highbury. Togo’s elimination from the Cup in the qualifying rounds has saved the North Londoners from losing also star striker Adebayor who was born at Lome in Togo of Nigerian descent on 26th February 1984. He came to Arsenal from Metz, and then Monaco, in 2006, taking the same No25 shirt number as former Nigerian international Nwankwo Kanu.
The vein of African ability does not end there. Arsenal can match the experience of Emmanuel Eboue, the 24 year-old Ivorian international, who joined them in 2005, and the promise of his soon-to-be 21 years-old compatriot John Djourou, who came to Highbury in 2006 when playing in the World Cup in Germany the same year, and 20 year-old Alexandre Song, a Cameroonian who played in the Under-20 African Cup of Nations and was signed by Arsenal in 2005, with Chelsea’s acquisition last year of 20 year-old Mikel John Obi, who starred for Nigeria in the 2005 FIFA under-20 World Youth Championships, and, the same year, of 22 year-old Ivorian representative Salomon Kalou.
The Northern clubs would not be affected so severely as their London counterparts. Mohamed “Momo” Sissoko, still just short of 23 years old, a midfielder who is noted for his tough tackling, arrived at Anfield for Liverpool in 2004. He is a nephew of the celebrated Salif Keita, and, though born in France, he has opted to play internationally for his family homeland Mali. He made his debut for his country against Morocco in 2003, and two years later was a member of the Mali team which reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. The Manchester sides are left to make hay while, elsewhere, the Africans are away.
Nwankou Kanu, the 31 year-old Nigerian, has an established career going back to his international debut in 1994 and participation in the World Cups on 1998 and 2002 (his country missed out two years ago). Although his team, Portsmouth, are only just outside the top five Premiership places, it is not considered widely that they will be in the running for the highest position by the end of the season – with players from some four competing nations they are likely to be involved more intimately than most in the Cup. Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers are similarly “too far off the top” at this stage for the loss of Obafemi Martins, the controversial 23 year-old Nigerian, and Benni McCarthy, the 30 year-old South African striker, to have such a decisive effect on the outcome of the Premiership.
(* Because of the pressure on space, and the fact that so many African players participate in the English Premiership it is possible to mention only a few selected names. Some thirteen Premiership teams are expected to give up players to the competition).
Yet all of Africa is not there: many Africans who were born, or raised overseas, have elected to represent those countries in which they have settled. English clubs bristle with French, Belgian, Swiss and Portuguese representative players of recent African heritage. Indeed, the number and quality of Africans d’Outremer now under French colours – take those at the Arsenal alone !!! – could field their own team capable of taking on and extending the best national teams in the African Cup of Nations and even of the world itself. That, however, is beyond the scope of this feature.
There was a time not so long ago when African football was dismissed as being on the periphery of the competitions that really mattered. There is a time, namely – now, when commentators question whether England’s poor international form is due to the country’s Premiership being dominated by players born “overseas” (many of them in Africa). There will come a time, not so far removed from today, when the administrators of European domestic football will seek to influence the scheduling of the African Cup of Nations to ensure that the effect on the outcome of their own championships is restricted to a minimum.
Forty-five years ago or so, when I was quite a young lad newly-arrived in London, we rushed over to Highbury to see the Arsenal entertain Leeds United because the visitors included the unusual sight of Albert Johanssen, a South African who was then the only black player in the highest division of English football. Alas, poor Albert, he died in poverty. The African footballers of today are much better paid – in fact, they earn a king’s ransom and now holding the Premiership to something akin to ransom. Africa – it may be just the Cup of Nations, but it has real international significance.
