by FSL News | 2 Feb, 2017 | African News
Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, Stade de Franceville – Cameroon 2 (Ngadeu-Ngadjui 72, Bassogog 90+3) Ghana 0
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon secured their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations final after securing a 2-0 win over Ghana in their semi-final tie at the Stade de Franceville on Thursday.
Cameroon sealed the win in stoppage time, as Christian Bassogog calmly slotted past Brimah to secure their spot in Sunday’s final against Egypt.
The Indomitable Lions got off to an encouraging start and managed to force Razak Brimah into a couple fine saves, while Adolphe Teikeu saw his header cleared off the line.
Ghana was on the back foot in the opening 25 minutes but eventually grew into the encounter as the half went on, although chances were hard to come by.
The Black Stars had a wonderful chance to break the deadlock in the 40th minute when Jordan Ayew broke through on goal, however, the forward dragged his effort wide.
There was a lively tempo to the encounter, however, the score remained goalless as the sides entered the halftime break.
Fabrice Ondoa came to Cameroon’s rescue in the 60th minute, as he produced a fine save to keep out Mubarak Wakaso’s curling free-kick.
Cameroon eventually broke the deadlock in the 71st minute as an unmarked Michael Ngadeu was allowed to slot home at the far post, 1-0.
Avram Grant responded by introducing Asamoah Gyan in the 75th minute, as they looked for a way back into the encounter, but they failed eventually.
They were hit with a 2v1 break. Aboubakar played in Bassagog, who carried it forward 30 yards and flipped the ball past Razak to ignite delirious celebrations!
Ghana will now face Burkina Faso in the third and fourth play-off on Saturday evening.
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by FSL News | 1 Feb, 2017 | African News
Egypt’s 44-year-old goalkeeper saved two penalties as the seven-times champions reached the Africa Cup of Nations final by edging out Burkina Faso 4-3 in a semi-final shootout on Wednesday.
El Hadary saved the last two kicks from Burkina Faso after Egypt had squandered their opening shot and looked to be on their way out of the tournament.
The veteran shot-stopper, who won titles in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010, was busy in the game, particularly in the closing stages as he made a fine stop from Traoré’s free-kick and tipped over an effort from Banou Diawara on the stroke of full-time.
Egypt’s long unbeaten run at Africa Cup of Nations finals goes on, but they were fortunate to beat Burkina Faso on penalties.
The oldest player to compete at continental big stage stopped penalties from his opposite number, Hervé Koffi, and Bertrand Traoré
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after the former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah gave Egypt a 66th-minute lead but Burkina equalised seven minutes later through Aristide Bancé.
Egypt, on course for a record-extending eighth title, now await their opponents in Sunday’s final in Libreville as Ghana and Cameroon play on Thursday in Franceville in the second semi.
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by FSL News | 29 Jan, 2017 | African News
Africa Cup of Nations, Quarter-final, Stade d’Oyem – Ghana 2 (J. Ayew 63, A. Ayew pen 78) DR Congo (Mpoku 68)
Both plying their trade in the English Premier League and Championship Andre and Jordan Ayew scored as Ghana progressed to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Although the Black Stars were very poor in the first half, however, Avram Grant’s side came out firing in the second half.
Ghana took the lead when Jordan Ayew brilliantly overruns his marker before producing a really composed finish.
Paul-Jose Mpoku leveled proceedings with a sensational strike from the edge of the area, with goalkeeper Ley Matampi busting out his trademark celebration.
But the Ghanaians were back in front after West Ham’s Andre calmly dispatched the penalty that sent Ghana through to face Cameroon in the semi-final on Thursday.
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by FSL News | 29 Jan, 2017 | African News
Frenchman Michel Dussuyer has resigned as coach of Ivory Coast, just days after the reigning champions crashed out of African Nations Cup 2017 in Gabon.
The federation’s statement praised Dussuyer’s “professionalism, commitment and human quality”, adding that “the appropriate measures will be put in place to find his successor”
Ivory Coast was eliminated from the Nations Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Morocco, the current holders ended third behind DR Congo and Morocco from Group C.
The 57-year-old is the second coaching casualty of the tournament in Gabon after Algeria coach Georges Leekens quit following his side’s surprise first round elimination.
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by FSL News | 28 Jan, 2017 | African News
Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, Stade de l’Amitié – Burkina Faso 2 (Bance 81, Nakoulma 84) Tunisia 0
Burkina Faso is first into the semifinals at the African Cup of Nations after Aristide Bance came off the bench to score late and Prejuce Nakoulma added a second on a breakaway to beat Tunisia 2-0 on Saturday.
Aristide Bance – who was only on the pitch five minutes – broke the deadlock with a sweetly struck free-kick with only nine minutes remaining, before Prejuce Nkoulma made sure of the victory.
The Stallions will face either Morocco or Egypt in the last four on Wednesday.
In Saturday’s second quarter-finals Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
Sadio Mane pictured missed the decisive penalty in a shootout to send favorites Senegal tumbling out of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cameroon will face either Ghana or DR Congo in the same stadium on Thursday.
Line-ups:
Burkina Faso: Koffi, Yago, Kone, Nakoulma, A .Traore, Dayo, Kabore, B. Traore, Coulibaly, Bayala, I. Traore
Tunisia: Mathlouthi, Abdennour, Ben Youssef, Msakni, Khazri, Khenissi, Sassi, Ben Amor, Yacoubi, Naguez, Sliti
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by FSL News | 27 Jan, 2017 | African News
Kalusha Bwalya says Herve Renard has the ability to win the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco as he assesses the tournament so far.
Should Renard win the finals, it would be an unprecedented third title with his third different nation after the Frenchman won it with Ivory Coast in 2015 and with Zambia in 2012.
The Former Zambian international Bwalya, 53, also told BBC Sport he thinks the competition in Gabon is full of good teams who are closely matched, as he looked ahead to the weekend’s quarter-finals.
Renard’s Morocco take on seven-time champions Egypt on Sunday in one of the quarterfinals.
The other last-eight matches are Burkina Faso v Tunisia and Senegal v Cameroon – both games on Saturday – and DR Congo v Ghana on Sunday.
Kalusha Bwalya was talking to BBC Sport’s John Bennett in Gabon
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