by FSL News | 17 Jan, 2017 | African News
The Black Stars of Ghana got a strong 3-point boost to their African Cup of Nations title ambitions after triumphing 1-0 over their Ugandan counterparts in their Group D match at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Deputy Captain and West Ham striker Andre Ayew in photo put the Ghanaians ahead in the 36th minute converting a resultant penalty kick after skipper Asamoah Gyan was brought down in Uganda’s penalty box.
The Cranes put up a fight in the second half making tactical changes to the squad but could not pip the Black Stars to the 3 points who also made midfield reinforcement by introducing long-serving Udinese midfield dynamo Agyemang Badu and the bullish Afriyie to ensure that the maximum points got in the bag.
Meanwhile, Schalke defender Baba Rahman went off injured in the first half.
He came off after just 39 minutes and was replaced by Frank Acheampong. The extent of the injury was not yet known.
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by FSL News | 16 Jan, 2017 | African News
Defending champions Ivory Coast, who handed Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha his competitive debut in their opening Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon against Togo, played to a goalless draw.
Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia was close in the 10th minute forcing the Togolese keeper into a smart save while Mathieu Dossevi and Kodjo Laba spurned good chances for the Sparrow Hawks.
Wilfried Zaha, making his competitive debut for Ivory Coast after switching international allegiance from England was substituted and replaced by Wilfried Bony.
Emmanuel Adebayor was not able to inspire Togo; despite his sides enjoyed some good possession in the early exchanges during the first half.
Four of the five games at the tournament have now been drawn
Ivory Coast 0
Togo 0
Ivory Coast: Gbohouo; Aurier, Bailly, Kanon, A.Traore; Serey Die, Seri (Doukoure 65′), Kessie; Zaha (Bony 70′), Kodjia (Gradel 83′), Kalou.
Togo: Agassa; Gakpe, Romao, Ouro-Akoriko, Djene; Dossevi (Agbegniadan 87′), F.Ayite, Atakora, Bebou; Laba (Akakpo 82′), Adebayor (Boukari 89′).
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by FSL News | 15 Jan, 2017 | African News
Riyad Mahrez scored twice as Algeria left it late to earn a 2-2 draw with Zimbabwe at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, on Sunday.
The Leicester winger had put his side ahead with a curling shot off the post. But Kudakwashe Mahachi’s low shot into the corner and a Nyasha Mushekwi penalty kick made it 2-1 to Zimbabwe – a lead they held until the 82nd minute.
Algeria hit the bar twice before Mahrez levelled with a speculative 25-yard shot that Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva should have saved.
While Mukuruva may feel embarrassed at his error, Algeria just about managed to save their own blushes as they rescued a point from their Group B opener.
It was a match they were very much expected to win. Zimbabwe, making their first appearance at the finals since 2006, will perhaps count themselves a little unlucky after playing some excellent football.
Khama Billiat was superb for Zimbabwe, only denied a spectacular 30-yard goal by an outstanding fingertip save from Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbholi, who diverted the ball on to the post.
Mbholi thwarted Billiat on more than that one occasion and also produced a brilliant save with his leg to keep out Cuthbert Malajila’s shot when the score was 2-1 to Zimbabwe.
But Algeria improved considerably after the interval and forced Zimbabwe back.
They hit the woodwork twice, through a Ramy Bensebaini header and when Zimbabwe defender Elisha Muroiwa narrowly avoided an own goal when he sliced a clearance.
Mahrez, winner of two Footballer of the Year awards just a few weeks back, proved their saviour, even if it will not go down as the cleanest strike he has ever hit.
And the Desert Foxes had chances to win the match, particularly when Mukuruva came flying out and left his goal wide open, but Yacine Brahimi could not take advantage.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Warriors will however take heart from their performance.
They lost a key player in Knowledge Musona through injury after only 12 minutes and recovered from 1-0 down to cause Algeria a mighty scare.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ star man Billiat was on top form and will cause any defence problems.
Mahrez who won the BBC and Confederation of African Football awards has got off to a terrific start, but some of Algeria’s other big names were not up to speed.
Islam Slimani missed a great chance to score when he headed weakly and Brahimi can certainly produce more.
But the Desert Foxes showed resilience, a necessary quality in tournament football.
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by FSL News | 15 Jan, 2017 | African News
Liverpool’s Sadio Mané (Pictured in action) converted a 10th-minute penalty to send Senegal on their way to a 2-0 victory over Tunisia and top of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Mané scored from the spot after Aymen Abdennour had brought down Cheikhou Kouyaté in the penalty area, giving Senegalthe lead against the run of play.
Centre-half Kara Mbodji added the second on the half-hour, heading in from a corner as Senegal became the first team to register a win at the tournament after the first three matches all ended in draws.
However, the victory was far from convincing as Tunisia missed several chances, notably in a dominant second-half performance.
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by FSL News | 14 Jan, 2017 | African News
Desportivo Mafra defender Juary Soares equalizer for the debutants in the 90th minute as Guinea-Bissau held host Gabon to a 1-1 draw in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations opener at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville on Saturday evening.
The Panthers took the lead in 52 minutes when superstar Borussia Dortmund goal poacher Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned in Denis Bouanga’s cross-shot.
However, the heavily built centre-back, Juary Soares who was born in Guinea-Bissau, but raised in Portugal rising highest from a set-piece to shocked the home crowd.
The goal sparked wild celebrations and was the least Guinea-Bissau deserved from a Group A fixture that only sparked into life after half-time.
The Gabon captain went close to doubling the hosts lead in the 69th minute, but he was unable to direct his volley attempt from a Mario Lemina cross on target.
Gabon coach Jose Antonio Camacho: “It’s very difficult to win the first match in these tournaments. For the next match, we have to fight tooth and nail.”
Guinea-Bissau coach Baciro Cande: “We are very, very happy. Now we have the motivation to go as far as possible.”
In the other late group game, Burkina Faso fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on the opening day of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon (0) 1 (Aubameyang 52′)
Guinea-Bissau (0) 1 (Juary Soares 90+1′)
Gabon: Ovono; Palun, E.Manga, Appindangoye, Obiang – Tandjingora (Poko 84′), Lemina (Kanga 73′), Ndong – Evouna (Aboué 88′), Aubameyang, Bouanga
Guinea-Bissau: Jonas; Dabo, Juary, Rudinilson, Soares – Zezinho, Santos (Aldair 75′), Nanissio, Brito – Camara (F.Mendy 66′), Mario (Piqueti 62′)
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by FSL News | 8 Jan, 2017 | African News
Egypt’s national coach Hector Cuper has stated his team will do its best to win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals which kicks off in Gabon on 14 January.
Under the helm of Argentinean coach Hector Cuper, the Pharaohs will be based in Port-Gentil for their group stage matches and they face tough competition alongside Ghana, Mali, and Uganda in Group D.
“I always ask the player to give 100% of his effort to win every match, regardless of its importance,” said Hector Cuper, coach of the Egyptian national team. “We are going to Gabon, and we want to win the competition.”
The Pharaohs are the most successful side in the history of the African football tournament and has won the cup a record seven times.
It, however, missed the last three editions after winning the trophy in Angola in 2010.
“People are asking me questions on the street about the World Cup, but winning the AFCON is also important, we will never think that the African championship is not important, we will try to do our best.”
The Hector Cuper’s Squad:
Keepers:
Ahmed El-Shennawi (Zamalek), Essam El-Hadary (Wadi Degla), Mohamed Awad (Ismaily) and Sherif Ekramy (Ahly).
Defenders:
Ahmed Dwidar (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City, England), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Ahmed Hegazy (Ahly), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Hamada Tolba (Masry), Karim Hafez (Racing Club de Lens – France), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Omar Gaber (FC Basel, Switzerland) and Saad Samir (Ahly).
Midfielders:
Abdallah El-Said (Ahly), Ahmed Gomaa (Masry), Amr Warda (Panetolikos, Greece), Ibrahim Salah (Zamalek), Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Mouscron, Belgium), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Mohamed Ibrahim (Zamalek), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek) and Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England)
Forwards:
Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ (Braga, Portugal), Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim ‘Kahraba’ (Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Marwan Mohsen (Ahly) and Mohamed Salah (AS Roma, Italy).
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