Ivory Coast cruises into last eight
Source: Agencies |
January 28, 2012, Saturday
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IVORY Coast's safety-first approach paid off as it reached the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Thursday but similar tactics backfired for Angola in a 2-2 draw with Sudan, which had not scored at the tournament for the previous 36 years.
The Ivorians, apparently traumatized by their dramatic quarterfinal exit at the hands of Algeria two years ago, managed a flattering 2-0 win over Burkina Faso on a steamy evening in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for their second straight win of the tournament.
Angola crawled back into its shell immediately after taking a 2-1 lead over Sudan early in the second half and had two players booked for time-wasting before its opponent deservedly equalized.
Angola, with four points from two games, needs a draw against the Ivorians on Monday to qualify but if it loses, Sudan could overhaul it with a win against Burkina, which has no point and is eliminated.
Burkina's fiery coach Paulo Duarte went out with a bang as he lambasted his federation over the failure to obtain clearance for three naturalized players. "We lost three players just before the start because we didn't manage to get them qualified," said the fiery Portuguese, often known as the African Mourinho.
"That just can't be allowed to happen, it's unthinkable... it's primitive."
The Ivorians were the second team to reach the last eight after co-host Equatorial Guinea, which triggered wild celebrations with a shock 2-1 win over Senegal in Bata on Wednesday night.
Gabon, the other host, could go through if it beats Morocco and Tunisia takes a point against Niger in a Group C double bill in Libreville.
Ivory Coast, which survived a penalty appeal early on when Jonathan Pitroipa was tripped, went ahead in the 16th minute against Burkina when two defenders failed to cut out a cross and Salomon Kalou fired home.
It sat on its lead, survived a few scares and made the game safe thanks to a bizarre own-goal by Bakary Kone, who sent a backwards header over stranded goalkeeper Daouda Diakite following an Ivorian free-kick into the area.
In the first game of the double bill at the picturesque Estadio Nuevo de Malabo, Manucho twice put Angola ahead, with the second goal coming from the penalty spot, but Ahmed Bashir replied each time for the Sudanese.
The Ivorians, apparently traumatized by their dramatic quarterfinal exit at the hands of Algeria two years ago, managed a flattering 2-0 win over Burkina Faso on a steamy evening in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for their second straight win of the tournament.
Angola crawled back into its shell immediately after taking a 2-1 lead over Sudan early in the second half and had two players booked for time-wasting before its opponent deservedly equalized.
Angola, with four points from two games, needs a draw against the Ivorians on Monday to qualify but if it loses, Sudan could overhaul it with a win against Burkina, which has no point and is eliminated.
Burkina's fiery coach Paulo Duarte went out with a bang as he lambasted his federation over the failure to obtain clearance for three naturalized players. "We lost three players just before the start because we didn't manage to get them qualified," said the fiery Portuguese, often known as the African Mourinho.
"That just can't be allowed to happen, it's unthinkable... it's primitive."
The Ivorians were the second team to reach the last eight after co-host Equatorial Guinea, which triggered wild celebrations with a shock 2-1 win over Senegal in Bata on Wednesday night.
Gabon, the other host, could go through if it beats Morocco and Tunisia takes a point against Niger in a Group C double bill in Libreville.
Ivory Coast, which survived a penalty appeal early on when Jonathan Pitroipa was tripped, went ahead in the 16th minute against Burkina when two defenders failed to cut out a cross and Salomon Kalou fired home.
It sat on its lead, survived a few scares and made the game safe thanks to a bizarre own-goal by Bakary Kone, who sent a backwards header over stranded goalkeeper Daouda Diakite following an Ivorian free-kick into the area.
In the first game of the double bill at the picturesque Estadio Nuevo de Malabo, Manucho twice put Angola ahead, with the second goal coming from the penalty spot, but Ahmed Bashir replied each time for the Sudanese.
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