2013 Africa Cup of Nations Finals – Monday 28 January 2013
Group A:
Morocco (1) 2 – 2 (0) South Africa
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Cape Verde (0) 2 – 1 (1) Angola
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
If on Sunday football fans in England thought that the three FA Cup Fourth Round games (Brentford v Chelsea, Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur and Oldham Athletic v Liverpool), had provided drama, it was nothing compared to the last ten minutes of the final round of games in Group A at the 2013 AFCON. At half-time in Durban, Morocco were ahead 1-0 from a tenth minute goal from Issam El Adoua, whilst in Port Elizabeth, Angola were leading 1-0 after a thirty third minute own-goal from Nando Maria Neves. So at the break, Morocco were going through as Group winners with South Africa in second ahead of Angola (both were on four points) due to the head-to-head rule. The various permutations started to come into play when on seventy one minutes, May Mahlangu brilliantly curled in an equaliser for South Africa from outside the penalty area. That goal meant Morocco were out and that South Africa and Angola would progress to the Quarter-Finals. It was all quiet until eighty one minutes and then it was pandemonium. In Port Elizabeth Fernando Varela scored for Cape Verde to make it 1-1 and a minute later in Durban Abdelilah Hafidi gave Morocco a 2-1 lead. Now Morocco and South Africa were going through. On eighty six minutes, South Africa levelled with another brilliant curling effort from outside the box, this time from Siyabonga Sangweni. Morocco knew that they were now in trouble as a goal in the game at Port Elizabeth would see the out of the tournament. Incredibly, with the game in time added-on, Héldon Ramos fired homefor CApe Verde, after Angolan keeper Lama spilled a cross-shot. Cape Verde saw out the remaining minutes, but the game was still going in Durban. However, Morocco could not find another goal and they exited the competition, as hosts South Africa topped Group A with Cape Verde in second.
Prediction:
(1) Morocco, (2) Angola, (3) Cape Verde, (4) South Africa.
Final Standing:
(1) South Africa, (2) Cape Verde, (3) Morocco, (4) Angola
Group B:
Niger v Ghana
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Congo DR v Mali
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Ghana could lose and still qualify (depending on the other result); however a point against Niger would guarantee progression in the tournament. Niger could qualify, but will have to beat Ghana and hope the other result goes their way. It is a very simple equation for Congo DR; they can only progress to the Quarter-Finals if they beat Mali. For the Malians to qualify for the knock-out phase, they only need to avoid defeat. Will Group B provide as much spectacle as the final round of games in Group A?