KUMASI, Ghana, 1 February 2008 — Angola and Tunisia yesterday advanced into the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup from Group D after playing to a dour goalless draw in Tamale, while the other match in Kumasi between South Africa and Senegal ended 1-1.
Senegal’s run-up to the game was nothing but chaotic, with coach Henri Kasperczak resigning after the 3-1 defeat against Angola and then stand-in coach Lamine Ndiaye dropping three players, including captain El Hadji Diouf and goalkeeper Tony Sylva, after they went clubbing the night before the game.
Both teams knew that to stand any chance of advancing they needed a high-scoring victory, as well as a win in the other group game between Tunisia and Angola that was being played at the same time, and it was Bafana, that looked more likely in the opening stages of the game.
South African defender Nasief Morris said that they had known that the game would not be easy. “Both sides still had an outside chance of advancing and both sides wanted to take that chance.
“We went into the game believing in ourselves and I think it showed on the field that we gave it our everything. We tried our best, but we lacked the finishing.”
South Africa grabbed the lead in the 13th minute when Teko Modise found Elrio Va Heerden and the Club Brugge player made no mistake with a well-taken side-footed shot from close range.
But far from settling the South African side, they allowed Senegal back into the game and South African goalkeeper Aaron Mokoena gifted them an equalizer in the 37th minute, when the Blackburn Rovers defender tried a spectacular clearance, but kicked the ball straight at Henri Camara who pushed the ball past goalkeeper Aaron Mokoena.
In the second half Senegal had most of the possession, however, it was Sibusiso Zuma who had the best chance in the 62nd minute when he found himself free in the area after a mistake by Newcastle defender Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye. Even though the German-based striker did everything right with his shot, Senegal’s goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul pulled off a brilliant save.
The Colorado Rapids custodian then took over center-stage as he pulled off two similarly excellent saves within a few minutes of each other.
He first dived to his right to deny Lerato Chabangu and just minutes later, pulled off a spectacular full-stretch save from a Kagiso Dikgacoi shot.
Siphiwe Tshabalala nearly gave South Africa the victory in injury time when his shot hit the upright and bounced back into play.
In Tamale, Angola and Tunisia went into the game knowing that a draw would see both teams through and not surprisingly, that is exactly how the game ended.
Tunisia came close to scoring twice in the first half. In the 19th minute Mohamed Chermiti rose above his defender for a textbook header, that flew just wide of the upright and midway through the second half Angolan goalkeeper Lama denied Kamel Zaiem with a good save from a long-range effort.
Both sides sat back in the second half, pushing the ball around in the midfield and not showing any eagerness to score, thereby ensuring the result that suited both teams.
Tunisia top the group with five points on goal difference from Angola, while Senegal finish third on goal difference from South Africa. Both finished the tournament with two points.
Tunisia will face Cameroon in the quarterfinals, while Angola face the defending champions Egypt. The other two quarterfinals see Ghana play against Nigeria and the Ivory Coast against Guinea.
UEFA Chief Platini Downplays Expanded Field at Euros
In Zagreb, Croatia, UEFA president Michel Platini believes increasing the number of teams at the European Championships would serve political and business interests rather than the tournaments’.
The possibility of going from 16 to 20 or 24 teams, possibly as soon as Euro 2016, was discussed at the UEFA congress yestrday. But Platini downplayed the likelihood of any change.
The present format is “very OK,” Platini said. “It seems to me that the 24 format is more a political and business solution.” A final decision will be made after discussions with all national soccer associations.
Platini again warned Poland and Ukraine to speed up preparations for co-hosting the 2012 European Championship.
“I have to admit that we have said to our colleagues in Poland and Ukraine to wake up with preparations,” he said.
Otherwise, “it seems that we could have a problem.”
Platini said Wednesday that after a year of political instability in Poland and Ukraine, the next four to six months would be crucial to avoid any “critical slippage” in sports and public infrastructure projects.
There has been speculation that UEFA could shift the tournament due to the organizational delays.
Platini also praised a deal reached earlier this month where European teams will receive financial compensation if their players are used at World Cups and European Championships.
“We unified the UEFA family,” he said. “In the next period, we will not have problems between clubs, leagues and UEFA. The football is our common interest.”
The agreement ended a long-running dispute and will provide clubs with about $252 million in compensation over the next four years.
The congress, attended by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, also accepted UEFA executive committee’s report for 2007 and a strategic financial outlook through 2012.
