Group B: Sudan 2-1 Burkina Faso
THE MAGIC OF the Africa Cup of Nations was made apparent yesterday as Sudan won their first game in 42 years at the tournament — and squeaked through to the quarter-finals as a result.
A goal in either half from Mudather Tayeb gave the “Falcons of Jediane” a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso, whose 96th-minute consolation through substitute Issiaka Ouedraogo was much too little, much too late.
Tayeb took advantage of Burkina’s high defensive line to open the scoring in the 33rd minute. Sudan broke quickly from midfield and Tayeb held off the challenge of Mamadou Tall before finishing past Diakité.
Diakité’s lapse in concentration handed Tayeb his second on 80 minutes. The Burkinabe keeper hesitated in coming to deal with a long ball and Tayeb rounded him before coolly finishing.
Ouedraogo’s header in the seventh minute of injury team briefly threatened to spoil Sudan’s party, but Mohamed Abdalla’s hung on to book their place in the knockout stages.
What it means: Sudan sneak past Angola into second place and qualify for a quarter-final against Zambia in Bata on Saturday. With three defeats from three games, Burkina Faso are out.
YouTube Credit: iFootball10
Group B: Ivory Coast 2-0 Angola
Pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast eased through to the quarter-finals with a straightforward 2-0 win over Angola in Malabo.
Goals from Emmanuel Eboue and Bony Wilfried kept up “the Elephants” 100% record at this year’s Cup of Nations, while deputy goalkeeper Daniel Yeboah extended their perfect run of three clean sheets from three.
Eboue gave Ivory Coast the lead in the 33rd minute when he slid in at the back post to turn home Wilfried’s cross.
Provider turned scorer on 65 minutes following a dreadful mix-up in the Angolan defence. Alex Massunguna headed the ball past his own keeper and Wilfried was on hand to finish into an empty net.
What it means: Ivory Coast take their place in the quarter-finals with a 100% record and no goals conceded. They face Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Saturday, while Angola go home.
YouTube Credit: iFootball10
Next up: We’re off to Gabon for a double-whammy of Group C goodness. Well, not really as both Gabon and Tunisia have qualified, and only have top place to fight over when they meet in Franceville.
Niger and Morocco play-off in the wooden spoon match in Libreville. Both games kick-off at 18:00.
