TheCable

CONGO IN SLIM WIN OVER GABON

Prince Oniangue’s goal earned Congo a 1-0 win over Gabon in their second Group A game at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Gabon dominated the early exchanges but could not penetrate Congo’s defence and score the first goal.

They almost did though as Frederic Wagha Bulot’s bullet from 24 yards was thwarted by a fingertip save from Christoffer Mafoumbi.

In the 19th minute, Gabon’s Malick Evouna should have given his side the lead when he broke through on goal, but the keeper had the better of him in a one-on-one situation.

Just before the interval, Levy Clement Madinda brushed past two Congolese players only to shoot tamely across goal.

Congo took the lead barely three minutes in the second half after Prince Oniangue scrambled the ball home from a corner kick.

Oniangue almost doubled the lead for his side but the keeper did well to palm the ball away from goal.

Gabon pressed for an equaliser as efforts from Aaron Appindangoye, Bulot, and Madinda in the spate of ten minutes were wasted.

With Wednesday’s result, Congo top the log with four points, followed by Gabon on three, Equatorial Guinea on two points and Burkina Faso with one point.

Line-up

Gabon: Ebang, Poko, Appindangoye, Manga, Palun, Obiang, Madinda, Bulot, Evouna, Ndong, Aubameyang

Congo: Mafoumbi, Ngonga, Bissiki, Moutou, Baudry, Babele, Gandze, Ndinga, Oniangue, Bifouma, Dore

EQUATORIAL GUINEA AND BURKINA FASO IN SCORELESS AFFAIR

Host Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso played to a goalless draw in their second Group A match at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

In an extremely cagey affair with deep defending and few chances created the 0-0 score line was unexpected.

A free-kick from Burkina Faso in the 19th minute was the first real chance of the game but Alain Traore struck the post to the delight of the host and their fans.

The same set-piece this time in favour of the host ten minutes later was the next real chance to scoring a goal in the match. Ivan Bolado Palacios curling shot brought out the best in Germain Sanou in goal for Burkina Faso.

Unsurprisingly, another set-piece almost broke the deadlock this time Aristide Bance’s 25-yard free-kick was well saved by Felipe Ovono.

The first chance from open play fell on the host two minutes later from a counter-attack. Armando Sipoto Bohale broke through but was unable to beat the keeper in a one-on-one situation.

Burkina Faso started the second half looking to draw the first blood but Traore’s volley in the 54th minute couldn’t hit target.

The host had two chances of scoring but Ellong Doualla Viera in the 56th minute and Enrique Boula Senobua in the 73rd fluffed their efforts.

Both sides searched for goals in the final ten minutes but none could break the deadlock.

Line-up

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Gomes, Bohale, Mangue, Zarandona, Nsue, Balboa, Iyanga, Viera, Senobua, Edu

Burkina Faso: Sanou, Gouo, Kone , Koffi, Yago, Traore, Kabore, Kone , Pitroipa, Traore, Bance

DAY 6 FIXTURES

January 22

Group B

Zambia v Tunisia

Cape Verde v Dr Congo

AFCON NEWS!

SOW: BEATING GHANA PROVES SENEGAL ARE BACK

Moussa Sow, Senegal’s hero in the 2-1 over Ghana in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group C match has declared that the Lions of Teranga are back to their very best.

The Fenerbahce forward scored in stoppage-time to snatch the winner for his side, with Ghana star Andre Ayew’s early opener having been cancelled out by Mame Biran Diouf’s equaliser shortly into the second half.

And Sow believes it’s a sign of a rebirth.

“I feel it’s a sign that our team is back,” he told Goal.

“Senegal used to be a reputable team on the continent but lost its place after the 2002 generation disintegrated.

“And efforts to reform the outfit all these years had been futile, but now we can sense a new and hopeful beginning for the team.”

Sow heaped all the praise on French coach Alain Giresse who was appointed in 2013 as a replacement for Amara Traore.

“He is a very experienced coach and knows African football, having managed teams like Gabon and Mali,” he added. “He knows how to obtain whatever he wants from the FA without causing an uproar.

“He has been able to integrate young players and they are doing very well. Every team has difficulties – financial, human, etc, but with Giresse, the atmosphere has been cordial.

“The equaliser on Monday crowned our strong push early into the second half. And it boosted confidence. However, our success over Ghana came through collective efforts.

“And that is what the coach always asks us to do. When your partner misses the ball, you take his place immediately and start chasing until you either recover the ball or hinder the progress of the opposing player.”

Senegal will face South Africa on Friday in their next group game.

TUNISIA COACH CAUTIOUS AHEAD OF GAME WITH ZAMBIA

Tunisia coach, George Leekens, has played down the strength of his team ahead of Group B clash with Zambia at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations showdown on Thursday.

The Carthage Eagles are the second most ranked African national team, behind Algeria, in the latest ranking by FIFA. They are five spots above nearest Group B rivals Cape Verde, nine ahead of Zambia and 11 above the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But far from seeing his Eagles as strong title candidates, Leekens said they are not even the group favourites.

“At this stage every team in the group is the favourite to finish on top,” he said.

“Tunisia are not the favourites to win the group. We have never said we are going to top the final standings.”

Tunisia had a less-than-impressive 1-1 opening draw with Cape Verde last Sunday but Leekens promised that his team “will be more focused for our next two games,” referring to fixtures against Zambia and Congo DR.