2013 Africa Cup of Nations Finals – Thursday 31 January 2013
Group D:
Algeria (0) 2 – 2 (0) Ivory Coast
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Despite the fact that there was nothing riding on this game as Ivory Coast were through and Algeria were out, it actually proved to be an entertaining encounter. With the pressure off, Ivory Coast rested a number of players, although Didier Drogba started for The Elephants. Algeria had the chance to go ahead in the first half when they were awarded a penalty, however Ryad Boudebouz could only hit the post and the chance was gone. Into the second-half and on sixty four minutes Arthur Bokam clumsily handled in the box to give Algeria a second penalty. Sofiane Feghouli made no mistake, putting it firmly into the top left hand corner. Six minutes later Algeria scored a second, when Feghoul got down the right wing and his cross was headed home by El Arbi Hillel Soudani, who had easily lost his marker. On seventy seven minutes Drogba got Ivory Coast back in the game when he delicately flicked home a header. The comeback was complete with nine minutes remaining, when Wilfried Bony let fly from outside the box, and his shot found the net after a wicked deflection off defender Rafik Halliche. At the whistle, Algeria left the tournament with their first goals and only point in the competition, whilst for Ivory Coast, the quest for the 2013 title continues.
Togo (1) 1 – 1 (1) Tunisia
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Togo knew a point would be enough to see them through to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history, but it was by no means a simple task. They started the more positive of the two teams and took the lead on thirteen minutes. Adebayor made a surging run from half-way before playing in Serge Gakpé who finished smartly. However, replays suggested that Gakpé was offside, but the goals stood and Togo were ahead. Tunisia though responded and were level on the half-hour when Khaled Mouelhi converted a penalty after Walid Hichri was brought down following a corner; 1-1 at the break. The second-half became the story of the referee, South African Daniel Bennett, as blatant penalties were turned away for both sides, and then one awarded for a ‘soft’ challenge on Saber Khlifa. Khaled Mouelhi stepped up again but this time he hit the post; justice done. In addition, Bennett mistakenly booked Nibombe Dare, when in fact the foul was committed by Serge Akakpo. Despite the best efforts of Tunisia, Togo held on to progress. Tunisia like their North African neighbours Algeria were out.
Prediction:
(1) Ivory Coast, (2) Algeria, (3) Togo, (4) Tunisia.
Final Standings:
(1) Ivory Coast, (2) Togo, (3) Tunisia, (4) Algeria.
The competition now has a two day break and resumes on Saturday with the first two Quarter-Finals, with Sunday seeing the remaining two being played. The fixtures are as follows, with the latest CAF Rankings in brackets:
Saturday 02 February 2013
Ghana (4) v Cape Verde (15)
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
South Africa (22) v Mali (3)
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Sunday 03 February 2013
Ivory Coast (1) v Nigeria (9)
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Burkina Faso (23) v Togo (18)
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit