World Soccer – August 2019

Africa Cup of Nations

Big guns go out

Egypt went out, Odion Ighalo getting two

goals as Nigeria won 3-2. Cameroon had

come from behind to score twice just

before half-time, only to suffer a similar

one-two punch as Ighalo equalised and

then Alex Iwobi got the winner three

minutes later.

Then followed the excitement of

Madagascar keeping up their group-

stage heroics to beat DR Congo on

penalties in a dream debut.

The game ended 2-2, watched by

a plane load of Malagasy fans who had

travelled over on a chartered flight with

their president, Andry Rajoelina. Ahead

going into the last minute, Madagascar

conceded an equaliser to Chancel

Mbemba’s powerful header and it felt as

if the fairytale would end there, only for

Yannick Bolasie to botch his kick in the

shoot-out and Madagascar to go through

4-2 on penalties.

Ghana were the last of a heavyweight

list of past winners knocked out, ending

their record of six successive semi-final

appearances since 2008 as Tunisia

edged them on penalties.

It was a fourth draw for Alain Giresse’s

team, yet they looked much improved as

they booked a quarter-final place. Taha

Yassine Khenissi gave them a 73rd-

minute lead before an unfortunate own

goal from sub Rami Bedoui forced the

game into extra time. Jordan Ayew had

chances to then win it for Ghana, but

Tunisia got through after changing their

goalkeeper just before the shoot-out.

Ivory Coast and Senegal posted 1-0

victories over Mali and Uganda

respectively, while Algeria looked sharp

in a 3-0 win over Guinea.

QUARTER-FINALS

Senegal did not have it easy against

a stubborn Benin side before Idrissa

Gueye scored the winner, while Tunisia

were much more emphatic with a 3-0

LAST 16

The decision to expand the field to 24

teams met with much scepticism, but

the first knockout stage delivered a raft

of upsets and thrilling contests to give

the tournament a much-needed injection

of excitement after a relatively sterile

group phase.

And this was despite Egypt being

eliminated by a suddenly inspired South

Africa, who tactically outfoxed the hosts

by playing a high line, adding to their

speed on the counter and generally

outplaying the Pharaohs with a neat

passing game.

Thembinkosi Lorch’s late winner was as

much as Stuart Baxter’s team deserved

and left the neutrals wondering where

this South African side had suddenly

popped up from after losing two of

their opening three games.

Defensively they were strong too, as

full-back Sifiso Hlanti kept Mohamed

Salah in check.

Egypt’s exit came the day after the

knockout phase began with Morocco

bundled out by lowly Benin on penalties.

It was an almost comical litany

of missed opportunity for Herve

Renard’s charges, including a spot-

kick in stoppage time that should have

ensured a late 2-1 victory. Instead, the

mercurial Hakim Ziyech thundered his

shot against a post and the game went to

extra time, where Benin gallantly hung on

and the won the shoot-out.

Cameroon had lost their crown before

R

E

V

IE

W

Despair...Mohamed

Salah and Egypt

lost to South Africa

Chance...Algeria

(in green) go close

against Ivory Coast