TheCable

TRAORE’S STRIKE EARNS DRAW WITH CAMEROON

Ibrahima Traore grabbed a stunning equaliser as Guinea held Cameroon 1-1 in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match on Saturday.

As it stands, all four matches in the group have now ended 1-1, leaving Cameroon, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea all with two points, two goals for and two against.

Benjamin Moukandjo gave Cameroon the lead in the 13th minute when he scored direct from a corner-kick.

His low ball to the near post was helped into the net by goalkeeper Naby Yattara.

Traore levelled three minutes before halftime when he controlled the ball with his back to goal and turned and fired a low shot into the far corner from 25 metres to end the game all square.

Line-up

Cameroon: Ondoua; Nkoulou, Cheudjou, Oyongo, Bedimo, Mbia, Loe, Choupo, Mouandjo, Salli, Aboubakar

Guinea:  N. M. Yattara; Pogba, Sankoh, Camara, Sylla, Constant; Conte, Fofana, Soumah; M. Yattara, Traore

GRADEL LATE STRIKE EARNS CIV DRAW

Max Gradel struck with three minutes left as Cote d’Ivoire snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against Mali in their Orange Africa Cup of Nations match on Saturday.

Gradel scored from 12 metres after Serge Aurier’s pass was deflected into his path as the Elephants finally broke Mali’s stubborn resistance.

Bakary Sako scored with after seven minutes for Mali to leave the tournaments favourites chasing the game.

It was the second straight 1-1 draw for both sides in Group D, leaving them with two points apiece.

Mali had a chance to double their lead with an indirect free kick inside their opponents’ area in the 40th minute after Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly committed an illegal back pass. But the chance was missed.

The Elephants will play Cameroon on Wednesday in Malabo in their final group match.

Mali will face Guinea in Mongomo at the same time.

Line-up

Cote d’Ivoire: Gbohou, Aurier, Kolo Toure, Bailly, Kanon, Yaya Toure, Tiote, Diomande, Tiene, Doumbia, Bony

Mali: Diakire, D. Diakite, Wague, S. Coulibaly, Tamboura, Sylla, N’Diaye, Keita, S. Yatabare, Sako, M. Yatabare

DAY 9 FIXTURES

JANUARY 25

Group A

Gabon v Equatorial Guinea

Congo v Burkina Faso

AFCON NEWS!

RENARD: I NEED TIME

Cote d’Ivoire coach, Herve Renard, says he needs time to rebuild the Elephants their 1-1 draw with Mali in their Orange Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash in Malabo on Saturday.

Mali got the first goal early in the game through a brilliant goal by Bakary Sako, but the Elephants forced a draw when Max Gradel equalised in the 86th minute.

It was a second draw for the 1992 champions after recording the same score line against Guinea in their first game on Tuesday.

The French international believes his side needs to be sharper at the start of their matches.

“We saw some good things in comparison with our first game against Guinea. Unfortunately, we were very quickly behind. It shows that we struggled to get going in this match. However, the overall statistics are in our favour, we shot on goal more than Mali,” Renard said.

“Four of the players on the pitch today are competing at their first AFCON. It is obviously harder for them. In football, we need to build. Things don’t happen in one shot. In Zambia, with whom I won, I stayed for five years, and I am only with the Elephants for five months. We need time to put things in place.”

The gaffer singled out Yaya Toure for praise and refused to be drawn into criticism of the match officials.

“Yaya Touré did his job well. He controlled the play, he was collective. For me, he had a very good game,” he said.

“I don’t like to argue about the past. Refereeing is a very tough job. It doesn’t help to talk as I could be suspended. We need to remain focused on our objective and keep the positive. For those who are not satisfied, I would like to state that it was my 11th consecutive AFCON match without a defeat. So I know what I am doing.”

Cote d’Ivoire’s final Group D match is against Cameroon in Malabo on Wednesday.

IT’S NOT OVER YET, SAYS AYEW

Ghana’s captain, Andre Ayew, believes that the Black Stars are far from qualifying for the next stage of the competition, despite the win against Algeria.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Ayew said, they had a more important match ahead and that will determine their fate in the competition.

“I don’t think we have to celebrate yet because we have another tough game ahead, and we must pick the maximum points at stake to see us through, he said.

Ayew however said that he was not surprised Ghana won the match.

“It was a difficult game, but Ghana remains a good side at all times and we are capable of overcoming such challenges.”

He was full of praise for captain Gyan.

“He is a matured player with a lot of experience,” he said.

“You can always see experienced players like him scoring such important goals in the dying minutes of a game when there is a lot of pressure.

“We all know his quality, what he can do on any day and he once again proved to all that he is one of the best players on the continent.”