by FSL News | 22 Jan, 2017 | African News
Photo: Cameroon’s goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa (C) blocks a shot on goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Cameroon and Gabon at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 22, 2017.
Burkina Faso and Cameroon secured progress to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday as hosts Gabon crashed out.
Gabon were held to a 0-0 draw by Cameroon in Libreville, and their opponents went through to the last eight as runners-up in Group A.
Burkina Faso won the group after a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau in Franceville.
A Rudinilson Silva own goal and a Bertrand Traore effort gave 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso the win that saw them clinch qualification and top spot.
They will stay in Libreville for a quarter-final next Saturday while Cameroon will take on Senegal in Franceville the same day.
Ghana are the only other team to have clinched a place in the last eight so far.
Gabon, meanwhile, are only the fourth hosts to be eliminated from the Cup of Nations in the group stage, and the first since Tunisia in 1994.
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by FSL News | 22 Jan, 2017 | African News
Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari returns to Italy after completing a deal to join struggling Seria A side Pescara.
The former Sunderland midfielder joined the Dolphins as a free agent on a six-month contract after ending a one-year contract with Saudi Pro League Al Ittihad.
Muntari, 32, signed a short-term contract with Pescara to play till the end of the season.
He won his first senior cap for Ghana against Slovenia on 17 May 2002 and became a regular fixture in the team as Black Stars opened their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
This is not his first Italian quest as he previously featured for Udinese, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. He scored 13 goals in all 83 matches with the Rossoneri.
Muntari aims to prove himself with his new club and aims to earn back a position with the Black Stars as he was indefinitely suspended following a physical attack on Ghana’s staff member Moses Armah at the 2014 World Cup.
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by FSL News | 21 Jan, 2017 | African News
Abdallah El Said winner in the last-minute gave the Pharaohs of Egypt a 1-0 victory over Uganda in African Nations Cup Group D on Saturday.
An 89th minute assist from Mohamed Salah proved crucial for a place in the quarter-finals.
Egypt victory not only eliminated the East Africans from the competition but also moved them into second place in the group.
GROUP D STANDINGS Ghana lead the group and in the quarter-finals. Egypt occupy second place #ACON2017 #Gabon
El-Said was set up by Mohamed Salah just when it seemed the Egyptians were going to be held to a second successive draw, blasting through the legs of the Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
Uganda, without a point, cannot go through to the next round with one game still to play.
Earlier on Saturday, Ghana beat Mali 1-0 to secure a quarter-final berth.
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by FSL News | 21 Jan, 2017 | African News
Africa Cup of Nations, Group D, Stade de Port-Gentil – Ghana 1 (Gyan 21′) Mali 0
Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal of the game as a 1-0 win for Ghana over Mali sent his side through to the knockout stages with a game to spare.
Gyan, 31, became Ghana’s all-time top scorer in the competition with eight goals, overtaking Osei Kofi. He has also now scored in six consecutive finals.
Ghana dominated from the first whistle, with Jordan and Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu and Gyan proving too fast and inventive in attack for Mali to ever rest easy.
Mali’s Moussa Marega missed several good chances with a header.
In the second half, Mali made changes and instantly put more pressure on their opponents, with a series of corners and attacks down the right wing that had Ghana on the back foot.
Brimah Razak pulled off a reflex save at the death from Khalifa Coulibaly, as Ghana scraped a victory.
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by FSL News | 19 Jan, 2017 | African News
Senegal sailed into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Goals from Liverpool forward Sadio Mané and Henri Saivet ensured the 2002 finalists progressed from Group B with their final match against Algeria to spare, but the margin of victory should have been much larger.
“The goal today was to qualify, now it’s done,” said the head coach, Aliou Cissé, after early goals settled the game. “In the first game, even when we played badly, we got to win. Today, we played well and won, and we qualified. I’m very proud of the guys, we have to keep going like that.”
Meanwhile, An Aïssa Mandi own goal and a Naïm Sliti penalty gave Tunisia a deserved victory in this North African derby, leaving Algeria on the verge of an early exit from the tournament.
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by FSL News | 17 Jan, 2017 | African News
Egyptian veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary wrote a new chapter in history when he became the oldest ever player to take part in the African Cup of Nations, but he was not to celebrate ads the Pharaohs were held to a goalless draw by a determined Mali side.
The second match of the Group D-day one doubleheader produced no winner as both sides shared the spoils.
Starting from the bench, it appeared El-Hadary would have to wait for another day to etch his name in the Africa Cup of Nations folklore, but after 23 minutes, he replaced injured Ahmed El Shenawy to become the oldest ever player to take part in AFCON at the age of 44 years and 2 days.
The game started on a quick note, and Egypt’s Marwan Mohsen had the first chance after four minutes. The Al Ahly forward reacted faster to a Mohamed Salah pass, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Mali almost responded when Lassana Coulibaly soared above the Egyptian defenders, but his header was saved El Shenawy. But the save turned out to be costly as the latter injured himself in the process and was forced to leave the field, making way for history maker El Hadary.
Mali was the better side for the rest of the first half, with Coulibaly and Moussa Marega being their most dangerous men. Egypt’s best chance fell to Mohamed El Neny, who saw his shot going just over the bar.
Egypt resumed stronger, and once again it was Mohsen who had the first chance eight minutes after the break. Winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan paced through his markers, and his cross found Mohsen’s header, but for Mali’s goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko who fully stretched to save the ball.
The game saw no more real chances for both sides, as Mali tried to clinch a late winner but without much success.
Ghana leads the pack of Group D with three points having defeated Uganda with a lone goal earlier. Egypt and Mali follow with one point each with Uganda at the bottom pointless.
Total Man of the Match
Moussa Marega (Mali)
Reactions:
Hector Cuper (Head Coach, Egypt)
It was a very difficult game. We tried to control the ball in the first half but we suffered because of the Malians physical players. We were better in the second half but at the end, my players were very tired because the weather was very humid. It was my wish to win the game. We always try to win all our games. The next two matches will be more difficult, but we will do our best to win both.
I still don’t know how serious Ahmed El Shenawy’s injury is. I believe it’s getting complicated because our third goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy is also injured. But we will see tomorrow and assess the situation.
Alain Giresse (Head Coach, Mali)
We hoped to do better and win the match, but we couldn’t. I believe we will be better in the next match. Egypt is a big team and not an easy team to play against, but we did our best and I’m satisfied. We know it is a difficult group and we will do our best against our next opponents. This is our first match and we played to win. When you don’t win you must not lose either.
(CAF) @football_sierra
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