TheCable

IT’S STALEMATE IN OPENING AFCON MATCH

A late strike from Thievy Bifouma helped Congo claim a 1-1 draw with host Equatorial Guinea in the opening match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Emilio Nsue well-taken strike from six yards put the host in front but Congo managed to secure a point in the 87th minute, with Bifouma latching on a Dominique Malonga’s effort.

Line-up

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Da Graca, Mbele, Iban, Nsue, Javier Balboa, Boula, Ivan, Sipo, Ivan Zarandona, Ganet

Congo: Mafoumbi, F. Nganga, Mouhibo, Moutou, Oniangue, N’Dinga, Dore, Bifouma, Gandze, Baudry, Babele

GABON BEAT BURKINA FASO

Goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Malick Evouna earned Gabon a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in their opening match.

Africa’s second best player gave his side a 19th minute lead making amends of an initial miss.

Jonathan Pitroipa came close to levelling the game in the 30th minute but Gabonese goalkeeper pulled off a fine reflex save.

Frederic Bulot fluffed the chance to put his side 2-0 up in the 63rd minute after missing from six-yards out.

The Gabonese defence withstood all pressure to hold out for the slim win.

Line-up

Burkina Faso: Sanou, Koffi, Kone, Bambara, Yago, D. Kone, Kabore, B. Traore, Alain Traore, Pitroipa, Zongo

Gabon: Ovono, Palun, King, Ecuele Manga, Obiang, Poko, Madinda, Ndong , Evouna, Bulot, Aubameyang

DAY 2 FIXTURES

JANUARY 18

Group B

Zambia v Congo DR

Tunisia v Cape Verde Islands

AFCON NEWS!

TOURE IN INJURY SCARE

African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure, sat out of training on Saturday, three days before Cote d’Ivoire o play their opening match at the African Cup of Nations.

The Manchester City player was stretched on the side lines as his team-mates practiced for the first time since arriving in Equatorial Guinea at a small stadium in Malabo.

The 1992 champions play their Group D opener on Tuesday against Guinea at Estadio de Malabo, and it was unclear if Toure would be able to play.

Mali will face Cameroon later that night.

BRAHIMI: ALGERIA ARE MOTIVATED

Yacine Brahimi has said that Algeria are very motivated ahead of Monday’s first day clash against South Africa.

The 1990 champions arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Thursday as one of the 2015 tournaments favourites following a fine run in their Group B qualifiers in which they won five and lost one game.

“We will try to adapt quickly in Equatorial Guinea, especially to the climatic conditions,” the 2014 BBC Africa Footballer of the Year said.

“We are motivated to succeed and make our fans happy. We are confident and claim ahead of this great African event.”

Algeria are in the group of death with Ghana, Senegal and South Africa.

APPIAH BELIEVES IN GRANT

Ghana international Kwesi Appiah believes the squad is adapting well to the philosophy of new coach Avram Grant.  

Grant, who only took over at the helm of Ghanaian football last November, has not had much of an opportunity to prepare the squad for Africa’s premier competition.

However, Appiah remains upbeat about the team’s prospects under the former Chelsea’s coach.

“[Grant] has got very clear ideas of how he wants the team to play, and the style with which he wants us to perform,” Appiah told Ghanasoccernet.com

“All the players have taken to what he’s been saying, and trying their best to carry it out on the field. That’s the important thing, people buying into how he’s trying to make us play.”

KINGSTON WARNS BLACK STARS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA

Ex-Ghana international Laryea Kingston has advised the Black Stars players to avoid social media during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The former Heart of Midlothian player sees Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp as major distraction tools.

“The players have to desist from social media and concentrate fully on the tournament if they want to win,” Kingston told Happy FM.

“Sometimes, we get distracted by things people say about us on such platforms so it will be prudent for the players to stay away from social media during the period of the AFCON.”

Kingston played at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations finals and got sent off in Ghana’s final Group match against Senegal.

FURMAN HOPES TO MAKE MEYIWA PROUD

South African midfielder, Dean Furman, says that Bafana Bafana hope to make their late goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa proud at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“There is a great feeling in the camp. I think the confidence in the group has grown considering we knocked the champions, Nigeria, out in the group phase,” he said.

“We also did well away in Congo and Sudan which has really built the confidence and belief amongst the players.

“We have a good spirit in the camp and we hope to perform well, and make Senzo Meyiwa proud.”

South Africa face Algeria in their opening game on Monday evening.

Other teams in their group are Ghana and Senegal.

MASHABA: BAFANA CAN WIN AFCON

Bafana Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, is confident that his team can win the Africa Cup of Nations title in Equatorial Guinea.

“We are coming back after the 10th [February] after the final is played. We have packed our bags expecting for a long stay there,” Mashaba said.

“In 1996 we set the standard that we are championship material. With this team we are trying to revive that spirit and show that we are one of the best.”

Mashaba has set his sights on upsetting Algeria in their opening clash of the tournament on January 19.

“All the teams are equal. When they say the group of death it gives us motivation. It will be good to beat the No 1 team on the continent,” he said.

“I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior. The boys are ready. The players know why they are here and they know what it means to wear the Bafana jersey.”

South Africa would put their unbeaten run under Mashaba on the line at the AFCON.

RENARD: BIG NAMES ALONE WON’T WIN US CUP OF NATIONS

Ivory Coast coach, Herve Renard, insists that even Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would struggle to make the difference at the Africa Cup of Nations.  

Speaking to journalists after the Elephants’ first training session at Malabo’s rundown Estadio La Paz, Renard lamented the absence of retired Didier Drogba and said Manchester City stars Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony cannot be relied upon to give his side the edge.

“Wilfried is a goalscorer, but he needs to be in good condition, while there is no need to say anything about Yaya. He has not been the best player in Africa for the last four years for nothing,” the 46-year-old French coach, whose team begin their campaign against Guinea in Group D on Tuesday, said.

“But now we need to build a team around him that is capable of working well together. That is the most important thing in football, not names. If you came here with Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic I don’t know if it would work.”

Renard, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012, took charge of the Elephants after last year’s World Cup.

“We are always one of the most fancied teams but a lot of things have changed from previous years. The squad is a lot younger now and if you base it on our qualifying campaign I don’t think we can be labelled one of the favourites. When a team comes up against the Ivory Coast they know what that means – three consecutive World Cups, players who play for the very biggest clubs.”

Renard also spoke on Chelsea veteran Drogba, the symbol of the country’s Golden Generation which, agonisingly lost the 2006 and 2012 CAN finals on penalties.

“If he is not there it’s because he didn’t want to come – otherwise he would certainly have been here. We can’t ignore our best players when we go to a major competition, but he didn’t announce his retirement in December. It was in August.”

KANOUTE BANKING ON KEITA

Former Mali international, Frederic Kanoute, is of the opinion that the country’s hope of doing well in Equatorial Guinea rest on the shoulders of Seydou Keita. 

Mali will face Ivory Coast, Guinea and Cameroon in Group D and Kanoute thinks that qualifying for the knockout stage will depend on Keita’s performance.

“We have done consistently well recently without making it to the final,” Kanoute told Goal.

“With Seydou Keita leading the team we can make it this year. I am hopeful. ”

Doubts have emerged over the team’s capacity to advance deep into the competition but Kanoute is having none of it.

“Mali were a bit up and down in qualifying but there has never been such an even competition, with Nigeria and Egypt both missing. Mali have enough quality players, and Keita is a great leader,” he said.

“He brings experience, professionalism; he plays in one of the top leagues. As long as he’s fit he can keep going, and he is an asset to any team.

“If this happens to be his last Cup of Nations, I truly hope he finishes with the title.”