Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2012 22:50:37 GMT 1
Official Match Reports
Cote d'Ivoire sweat past Sudan
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire was given a rude awakening despite beating the Desert Hawks of Sudan by a lone goal in their 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener on Sunday in Malabo.
Striker Didier Drogba scored the only goal of the match on 39 minutes, heading home from Salomon Kalou’s cross from the left.
However, it was a match that the highly-rated Ivorians would like to forget quickly as the Sudanese matched them squarely to their surprise. The Desert Hawks have themselves to blame for not ending the game with at least a point after displaying probably the performance of their lives.
With many expecting the Ivorians to walkover the Sudanese, it turned out to be the contrary as the Elephants’ supporters were made to sit on broken bottles throughout the game.
From the onset, it was a balanced game with each side having their fair share of the exchanges with the Ivorians slightly on top. Whilst Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Kalou and Drogba were creating sleepless nights for the Sudanese defence, Ahmed Bashir and Mudathir Eltaib were also causing havoc at the end.
Six minutes before the break, the efforts of the Elephants yielded dividends as Drogba headed past goalkeeper Mohammed Abdallah from Kalou well-taken cross for the opener.
The Sudanese responded well and two minutes later Bashir was put through by Eltaib, but the latter’s shot missed narrowly to the relief of the Ivorians. Minutes later, Eltaib was unlucky after his effort from his unfavoured left foot from close range hit the crossbar to climax the first half.
The second half was no different as the Desert Hawks failed in their search for the equalizer despite sharing possession with their opponents. On the stroke of time, the Sudanese were gifted with a golden opportunity to draw even but Musa Mohammed shot across the face of goal after captain Haitham Mustafa had laid to his path.
Cote d’Ivoire will next play Burkina Faso on January 26 in Malabo with Sudan facing Angola also at the same venue.
Zambia shock Senegal to go top
The Chipolopolos of Zambia masterminded the major surprise of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations after beating Senegal 2-1 in their Group A encounter on Saturday at the Estadio de Bata.
The Zambians shot into a two goal lead at half time courtesy efforts from Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba before the Teranga Lions rallied one back through Dame Ndoye in the latter stages of the game.
The Chipolopolos made a mockery of the star-studded frontline of the Teranga Lions which included Demba Ba of Newcastle United, MoussaSow of Lille and captain Mamadou Niang of Qatari side, Al-Sadd by keeping them at bay throughout the first half.
They took over the midfield with petit midfielder Rainford Kalaba leading onslaughts aided by Mayuka and captain Christopher Katongo.
As early as the 12th minute, the Zambians were up and it was Mayuka who silenced the highly rated Senegalese with a loose header from a free-kick.
Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 after Kalaba beat an offside trap before firing past onrushing goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Despite the dreadful attacking force of the Senegalese, it was the Zambians who continued to make inroads upfront and just before recess, Coundoul was to his side’s rescue with a diving save of a goalbound shot from Mayuka at close range.
The second half was a balanced game with the Senegalese upping the game in their quest to reduce the deficit. Coach Amara Traore brought on Newcastle new recruit Papiss Demba Cisse and the latter’s first touch almost gave birth to the equalizer.
Cisse chipped over his marker but the connecting header from Ba hit the crossbar with Zambian goalie Kennedy Mweene completely beaten. From that point it was only a matter of time the Teranga Lions will roar and in the 74th minute Ndoye scored from close range.
The Teranga Lions fought on to at least salvage a point but their efforts were fruitless as Zambia cruised on to a famous victory.
Zambia now leads the pack with three points, same points as co-hosts Equatorial Guinea who beat Libya by a lone goal in the tournament opener
CWL
Cote d'Ivoire sweat past Sudan
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire was given a rude awakening despite beating the Desert Hawks of Sudan by a lone goal in their 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener on Sunday in Malabo.
Striker Didier Drogba scored the only goal of the match on 39 minutes, heading home from Salomon Kalou’s cross from the left.
However, it was a match that the highly-rated Ivorians would like to forget quickly as the Sudanese matched them squarely to their surprise. The Desert Hawks have themselves to blame for not ending the game with at least a point after displaying probably the performance of their lives.
With many expecting the Ivorians to walkover the Sudanese, it turned out to be the contrary as the Elephants’ supporters were made to sit on broken bottles throughout the game.
From the onset, it was a balanced game with each side having their fair share of the exchanges with the Ivorians slightly on top. Whilst Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Kalou and Drogba were creating sleepless nights for the Sudanese defence, Ahmed Bashir and Mudathir Eltaib were also causing havoc at the end.
Six minutes before the break, the efforts of the Elephants yielded dividends as Drogba headed past goalkeeper Mohammed Abdallah from Kalou well-taken cross for the opener.
The Sudanese responded well and two minutes later Bashir was put through by Eltaib, but the latter’s shot missed narrowly to the relief of the Ivorians. Minutes later, Eltaib was unlucky after his effort from his unfavoured left foot from close range hit the crossbar to climax the first half.
The second half was no different as the Desert Hawks failed in their search for the equalizer despite sharing possession with their opponents. On the stroke of time, the Sudanese were gifted with a golden opportunity to draw even but Musa Mohammed shot across the face of goal after captain Haitham Mustafa had laid to his path.
Cote d’Ivoire will next play Burkina Faso on January 26 in Malabo with Sudan facing Angola also at the same venue.
Zambia shock Senegal to go top
The Chipolopolos of Zambia masterminded the major surprise of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations after beating Senegal 2-1 in their Group A encounter on Saturday at the Estadio de Bata.
The Zambians shot into a two goal lead at half time courtesy efforts from Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba before the Teranga Lions rallied one back through Dame Ndoye in the latter stages of the game.
The Chipolopolos made a mockery of the star-studded frontline of the Teranga Lions which included Demba Ba of Newcastle United, MoussaSow of Lille and captain Mamadou Niang of Qatari side, Al-Sadd by keeping them at bay throughout the first half.
They took over the midfield with petit midfielder Rainford Kalaba leading onslaughts aided by Mayuka and captain Christopher Katongo.
As early as the 12th minute, the Zambians were up and it was Mayuka who silenced the highly rated Senegalese with a loose header from a free-kick.
Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 after Kalaba beat an offside trap before firing past onrushing goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Despite the dreadful attacking force of the Senegalese, it was the Zambians who continued to make inroads upfront and just before recess, Coundoul was to his side’s rescue with a diving save of a goalbound shot from Mayuka at close range.
The second half was a balanced game with the Senegalese upping the game in their quest to reduce the deficit. Coach Amara Traore brought on Newcastle new recruit Papiss Demba Cisse and the latter’s first touch almost gave birth to the equalizer.
Cisse chipped over his marker but the connecting header from Ba hit the crossbar with Zambian goalie Kennedy Mweene completely beaten. From that point it was only a matter of time the Teranga Lions will roar and in the 74th minute Ndoye scored from close range.
The Teranga Lions fought on to at least salvage a point but their efforts were fruitless as Zambia cruised on to a famous victory.
Zambia now leads the pack with three points, same points as co-hosts Equatorial Guinea who beat Libya by a lone goal in the tournament opener
CWL
