Category: African News

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Morocco ease past Tanzania, DRC & Zambia draw in opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco ease past Tanzania, DRC & Zambia draw in opener

Tournament favourite Morocco, in the hunt for their first AFCON title in almost 50 years, thrashed Tanzania in the Group F opener.

On Wednesday, the Atlas Lions of Morocco proved too strong as they brushed aside Tanzania 3-0 at the Stade Laurent Pokou In their opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The North Africans were dominant as they controlled the pace of the showdown against Taifa Stars, ranked 121 in global football.

The 2022 World Cup semifinalist took the lead after Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick was parried out by Salum Manula before it was tapped in by Morocco’s skipper Roman Saiss.

Things got worse for Tanzania when Novatus Miroshi was sent off with 20 minutes left before Azzedine Ounahi scored to double Morocco’s lead.

Youssef En-Nesyri converted Achraf Hakimi’s cross as they crapped up the victory.

In the day’s encounter, DR Congo and Zambia settle for a 1-1 draw in Group F’s second game on Wednesday evening.

DR Congo’s star Yoane Wissa was named Man of the Match by technical observers. All four sides are back in action again on Sunday.

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Mali beat South Africa in the Group E opener to go top
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mali beat South Africa in Group E opener to go top

On Wednesday, South Africa suffered an opening African Cup of Nations Group E 2-0 defeat to Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.

Goals Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko were enough as the Les Aigles Mali topped off the group – Namibia in second after they stunned North African giant Tunisia 1-0 in the early kickoff at the same venue.

South Africa was the better side in the opening 45 minutes but failed to take any of their chances. 

A penalty was awarded to South Africa after an elbow to the face from Mali defender Sikou Niakate on Evidence Makgopa confirmed after VAR review.

The 1996 champions missed a glorious chance to take the lead after Al Ahly striker Percy Tau sent a penalty over the bar for Bafana Bafana.

However, Mali took control after Traore opened the scoring for the Les Aigles from tapped in the rebound after Sekou Koita’s free-kick hit the woodwork.

Mali capitalised to net their second when Sinayoko seized on Kamory Doumbia’s pass to rifle the second from inside the box six minutes to ensure victory for the West Africans.

As a result, Mali has won all three Afcon games they have played against South Africa, having beaten them at the 2002 and 2013 editions.

Mali takes on Tunisia on Saturday as South Africa battle with Namibia on Sunday in their East Africa derby.

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Bertrand Traoré scores last-gasp winner for Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bertrand Traoré scores last-gasp winner for Burkina Faso

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso defeated Mauritania 1-0 with a last-gasp Bertrand Traore winner in the 96th minute in their opening Cup of Nations Group D tie at the Stade de Bouaké.

Both sides meet for the first time at the stage as Traoré, who participated at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2011 African U-17 Championship, secured a pivotal three points for Les Étalons.

After a goalless affair in the 90th minute, Burkina Faso got their breakthrough when Nouh Mohamed El Abd fouled Issa Kabore in the penalty area.

Traore misplaced Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse from the spot. As a result, Burkina Faso go top of Group D ahead of taking on Algeria on Saturday. 

Mauritania’s third appearance started with a narrow defeat, leaving them with an uphill task to qualify from this group as they set to face Angola and Algeria, respectively, in their remaining group two matches.

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Cristovao Paciencia helps Angola draw with Desert Foxes Algeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cristovao Paciencia helps Angola draw with Algeria 

Algeria were held to a 1-1 draw against Angola in their opening Group D game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, with a second-half Cristovao Paciencia Mabululu penalty denying the North Africans a vital first win.

The 2019 champions got off the mark through Baghdad Bounedjah’s opening goal after 18 minutes in Bouake, Ivory Coast’s second city, but they failed to double their lead at the break.

Algeria were pegged back midway through the second half as substitute Mabululu converted from the spot after he was fouled in the box by Nabil Bentaleb.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi expressed his disappointment in his post-match interview. “This is not the result we expected. We were expecting to have three points. We tried our best and didn’t want to lose the game, so we did what we could to get a necessary point.”

Algeria’s next outing is against Burkina Faso on Saturday, as Angola faces Mauritania in the evening kickoff (20h00).

In Group C’s second game, Guinea and Cameroon shared opening spoils 1-1 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023. 

Earlier, holders Senegal thrashed the Gambia 3-0 – they will face Cameroon on Friday, January 19, at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium –Guinea‘s Syli National take on Gambia on the same day in a late kickoff. 

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Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Winning start for holders Senegal as Lamine Camara nets brace

Holders Senegal got off to a winning start as youngster Lamine Camara stole the headlines with a brace in their 3-0 demolition of the Gambia.

Pape Gueye scored Senegal’s opener in the 4th minute at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro in the Group C encounter – 20-year-old Lamine Camara scored twice to ensure a bright opening match for Lions of Teranga.

The Gambia suffered more setbacks when Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off before half-time.

Lamine Camara doubled Senegal’s lead with a low finish in the 52nd minute with a curling effort before wrapping up his brace in the 86th minute.

The 2023 U20 AFCON Best Player was named Man of the Match on his Cup of Nations debut for Senegal.

Head coach Aliou Cisse’s side takes home an early advantage with maximum points of the group as Cameroon takes on Guinea later on.

Senegal will take on Cameroon in Yamoussoukro Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their second group-stage match on Friday (17:00 GMT).

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Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea face a tricky Cameroon AFCON opener

Syli National of Guinea to face a tricky Group C opener in the Africa Cup of Nations against five-time winners Cameroon on Monday.

Kaba Diawara will be at the dugout when his side opens their AFCON campaign at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro. 

Monday’s encounter is the third between the two sides at the Cup of Nations – Both nations have met in previous group stages that ended in draws: 2-2 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2015.

Cameroon, under the supervision of Rigobert Song, will be hoping to start on a positive footing as they were eliminated by Egypt in the semi-finals as hosts nation in the 2021 AFCON but won against Burkina Faso 5-3 on aggregate to lift the third spot. 

Syli National head coach Kaba Diawara has been working on instilling a winning mentality in his side as they prepare to face the Indomitable Lions.

“We have a strong group, with great teams so we must start the competition well to secure a chance of qualifying for the next neround,” he told CAFOnline.

“My personal ambition is to win. When we start a job we have to do it well. We have a young team and we are in a group that has previous champions. We hope to be at the level and give everything on the pitch. I want to urge our fans to encourage us and believe in us.”

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Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stunned Ghana with Rodrigues' goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stun Ghana

Egypt captain Mohammed Salah converted a late penalty kick to rescue Egypt from a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in their opening group B game of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The Pharaohs started brightly with an early goal through Mohamed Mostafa’s strike, but the Mambas came into the second half much stronger with determination. 

They rallied in the second half with goals from Witness João Quembo and Clésio Baúque in the 55th and 58th minutes, respectively. 

However, deep into the extra time, Domingos Macandza’s missed kick brought down Mostafa Mohammed – a VAR review confirmed Egypt deserved a penalty.

Salah made no mistake to slot in his spot kick for his first goal of the tournament as he helped the Phaphroahs nick a point.

In Group B’s other encounter, Garry Rodrigues’ late goal handed Cape Verde a 2-1 victory as they secured maximum points against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Cape Verde took a deserved lead in the 17th minute through Jamiro Monteiro. The former Philadelphia Union midfielder tapped home from a loose ball from goalkeeper Richard Ofori. 

Alexander Djiku levelled the scoreline for the Black Stars. However, his goal was not enough – after Garry Rodrigues scored late in stoppage time.

As a result, Cape Verde tops Group B on three points, followed by Egypt, Mozambique and Ghana, respectively. 

Egypt will play Ghana on Thursday, January 18, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium – whilst Cape Verde takes on Mozambique on Friday at the same venue. 

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Victor Osimhen's quick-fire equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Disappointing AFCON start for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Three-time African Champiosn Nigeria’s Super Eagles shared the spoils with Equatorial Guinea 1-1 in the African Cup of Nations Group A opener at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, northern Abidjan on Sunday.

As a result, host Ivory Coast top Group A with three points after their 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. 

Iban Salvador’s fine first-half finish put the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 36th minute. However, his goal was cancelled by the African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen in the 38th minute.

Victor Osimhen once again proved he is a key player in the Super Eagles side after his equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Italy & Napoli Player of the Year nodded in a minute after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro heads into the tournament under some pressure, having drawn with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying before losing to Guinea in a friendly.

Jesus Owono made several second-half saves to deny the Super Eagles, while Osimhen missed after breaking clear.

Jesus Lazaro was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after a breathtaking performance.

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Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea Bissau in AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea-Bissau in AFCON opener 

Hosts Ivory Coast opened the 34th edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.

Seko Fofana’s early goal was the perfect start for the Elephants in front of an exciting packed house in their Group A clash in Abidjan when he struck home from just inside the area in the fourth minute.

The Al Nassr midfielder capitalised on a loose ball outside when he unleashed a superb strike beyond goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.

Ivory Coast’s superior talent shone through in short bursts, Fofana rattling the crossbar as goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco produced a superb fingertip stop to deny a carbon copy of the first goal.

Despite a few threats from the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau – However, the hosts doubled their advantage just before the hour mark when substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso stylishly fired home from a Jonathan Bamba assist.

It was Krasso’s goal-fine finish that put the result beyond the Djurtus as Cote d’Ivoire confidently opened the tournament with a convincing victory.

Group A continues on Sunday with Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea facing off before the Super Eagles meet Ivory Coast on Thursday in arguably the most-anticipated game of the group stage.

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Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau

On Saturday, the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire set their sight to kick off their 25th appearance as host of the Africa Cup of Nations in four decades on a positive footing.

Ivory Coast have been African champions twice before, most recently in 2015 with a team captained by Yaya Toure, but this time, they’ll be hoping to thrive under the pressure of playing at home.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first encounter between Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset will rely on their star forward Sebastien Haller against minnows Guinea-Bissau at the newly-built Ebimpe Olympic Stadium at kickoff 20:00 hrs.

“We feel the expectation every day but we just need to live with it,” Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the 70-year-old Frenchman, told reporters in the country’s economic capital Abidjan on Friday.

“My job is to transform the pressure into something positive, to make sure that gives the players strength and confidence.”

The Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau are ready for their fourth continental showpiece after making their debut in 2017, six years as they finished bottom of their group in each of their three previous participations, with a total of three draws and six defeats.

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