TheCable

MBODJI HEADER DENIES BAFANA BAFANA

South Africa and Senegal played out to a 1-1 draw in their second Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group C match at the Estadio de Mongomo on Friday.

Oupa Manyisa gave Bafana Bafana the lead at the start of the second half with a low strike but a header from Kara Mbodji just after the hour mark earned the Lions of Teranga a draw.

The result leaves Senegal top of the group with four points from two matches, one point clear of both Algeria and Ghana, who met earlier in the day with the Black Stars triumphing 1-0.

South Africa are bottom with just one point and must beat Ghana in their last match next Tuesday to stay in the competition.

The first half was filled with disjointed play as both sides battled to find their rhythm.

The best chance of the half came after 10 minutes when some neat interplay from the South Africans created a chance for Vilakazi, but his shot from 20-yard was tipped over the bar by Bouna Coundoul.

It took 25 minutes of the game before Senegal could test Jackson Mabokgwane in goal for South Africa as midfielder Papakouli Diop went for goal from 30 yards, but his free-kick was easily dealt with by the goalkeeper.

Mame Diouf was presented with an opportunity to put his side ahead but he could only place his header wide.

The 1996 AFCON champions began the second half with renewed energy and got their reward as Manyisa put them in front.

Anele Ngcongca made good ground down the right two minutes after the restart and his low cross evaded everyone but Manyisa who calmly slot home.

Senegal levelled the score line 15 minutes into the second half after Mbodji rose at the back post to power Diouf’s free-kick into the net.

Neither side could break the deadlock as the game wore on and had to settle for a share of the spoil.

Line-up

South Africa: Mabokgwane, Ngcongca, Matlaba, Hlatshwayo, Mathoho, Furman, Jali, Manyisa, Phala, Vilakazi, Rantie

Senegal: Coundoul, Gassama, Mbodji, Sane, M’Bengue, ‘Diaye, Gueye, Diop, Sadio Mane, Sow, Mame Diouf

GYAN FIRES GHANA TO VICTORY

A stoppage time goal from captain Asamoah Gyan handed Ghana a crucial win over Algeria and leaves the hope of qualifying for the quarter finals in their own hands.

In a game lacking quality, Gyan’s 92nd minute finish past Rais Mbolhi was the only notable shot on target, but it was enough to secure a vital three points.

Algeria, Africa’s No. 1 team, looked to be okay with a draw after beating South Africa in their opening game but Ghana didn’t have that luxury after a surprise 2-1 defeat to Senegal.

Nabil Bentaleb had the two best chances to put Algeria ahead but he sent his shots wide midway through the first half and again early in the second.

The rest of the first half saw both sides commit numerous fouls, which resulted in a few heated arguments.

Ghana started slowly, but staring elimination in the face became more desperate in the second 45.

Gyan’s glancing header went wide of the left post in the 53rd minute as the Black Stars began to find some space.

Andre Ayew headed a chance over the bar and it looked like one of those days for the four-time AFCON champions.

Substitute Wakaso Mubarak hit a desperate long pass in added time and Gyan muscled past his marker, and then finished low and past Mbolhi for Ghana’s crucial win.

Line-up

Ghana: Brimah, Afful, Rahman, Amartey, Mensah, Acquah, A. Ayew, Badu, Atsu, Gyan, J. Ayew

Algeria: M’Bolhi, Mandi, Bougherra, Medjani, Ghoulam, Lacen, Taider, Bentaleb, Brahimi, Feghouli, Belfodil

DAY 8 FIXTURES

JANUARY 24

Group D

Cote d’Ivoire v Mali

Cameroon v Guinea

AFCON NEWS!

GYAN IS GREAT, SAYS GRANT

Ghana coach, Avram Grant, says Asamoah Gyan is “one of the greatest players” he has ever worked with.

The former Chelsea manager stared elimination in the face until Gyan’s last-gasp goal now put qualification in their own hands.

Grant waxed lyrical afterwards.

“I have coached some of the great players – and he’s one of the greatest,” he said.

“Asamoah Gyan was not fit – he didn’t train like he needed to – but he’s Asamoah Gyan.

“First – he always scores when you need him, and he’s good for the spirit of the team; he’s a very good captain.”

Everton winger Christian Atsu also reiterated Gyan’s importance to the team.

“We always believe in him – any time he’s in the game we have the confidence to play,” he said.

TRAORE: WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE

Guinea captain, Alain Traore, has said that not been favourites to beat Cameroon on Saturday in their second Orange Africa Cup of Nations match is what motivates them to do well.

On paper Cameroon have an advantage over Guinea as they have never lost a game to them and but if there is one thing that this tournament has proven so far is that there are no favourites.

“We have no fear. We knew from the beginning that we are a team nobody would count as favourites,” Traore told FIFA’s website.

“We are not scared of any opponent and have nothing to lose. So we can simply play our game. That is what we want to do in our next match against Cameroon.”

Both teams are coming into this match after playing to draws in their opening matches in this tournament. Cameroon played to a 1-1 draw with Mali as Guinea and Ivory Coast also drew 1-1.

RENARD DEMANDS MORE FROM TOURE

Cote d’Ivoire’s coach, Herve Renard, wants to see more from captain Yaya Toure when the Elephants attempt to kick-start their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Mali on Saturday.

The1992 champions started this campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Guinea with a Seydou Doumbia’s 72nd-minute equaliser sparing the blushes of one of the tournament favourites.

Renard has now called on his talismanic skipper to up his performance level.

“I think Yaya was a bit tired at the end of the game so it was better for him to come off, but he is a big competitor so he’ll be ready for the second game,” Renard said ahead of the game with Mali.

“He has a big responsibility now, with the captain’s armband. I expect a better second game from him than the first one.

“If he is not able to improve his level it will be difficult for the team.”

With the absence of Gervinho, who was sent off against Guinea for lashing out at Naby Keita in the 58th minute, Renard will have to rejig his forward line.

The Roma man will now miss the last two group matches through suspension.

“I said to him that he shouldn’t have done what he did, but I also said to him that I did the same thing when I played football,” he said.

“It is the kind of thing that we shouldn’t see on a football pitch but sometimes things happen on the pitch and you get a bit carried away by the pressure or the intimidation of the opposition.”

Mali have lost their last four games with the Elephants, including a 1-0 defeat in the 2012 AFCON semi-final.

MASHABA DENIES DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS

Bafana Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, has denied that defensive marking was a problem against Senegal despite conceding from a set-piece.

South Africa were undone on several occasions by the high ball and eventually succumbed when Kara Mbodji got above Mulomowandau Mathoho to power home an equaliser after Oupa Manyisa opened the scoring.

But Mashaba is unperturbed.

“The goals scored against us, it’s not to say we are bad, sometimes they’ve got a height advantage,” Mashaba said.

“I mean you could see their strategy, get into their own half, play long-balls into the box and challenge us on the heading. Twice or thrice they came in. When they scored, it was not even two minutes after they scored another one [from a header that was ruled offside].

“The problem is not marking at the back. If we need to ease problems for ourselves we need to close the supply. You could see they went freely on the flanks and they were playing balls into the box. We spoke about it at camp.”

But Mashaba admitted that decision-making going forward is once again an issue of concern for his side.

“Again we created more chances than the opposition, we should have won the game. We are the team that has created more chances but converted few. We should have scored no less than six goals in both matches.

“The question of scoring, it’s about finishing, especially from the second ball. How many chances did we have? But we still wanted to go behind the defenders. It’s a concern.”

South Africa are now condemned to beat Ghana in their last group match or face elimination.