Joy And Sorrow
In African Qualifiers
Wleh Bedell
Drama and excitement was not far away when the elites of African
football fiercely engaged each other in the final round of the
qualifiers for a place in the Angola, South Africa 2010
extravaganza.
All twenty teams drawn in a group of four each were in action as
there were a host of upsets and a major tragedy. The biggest upset
of the weekend was the visiting Azingo Nationale of Gabon stunning
2-1 win over the Atlas Lions of Morocco. Also, Togo nipped Cameroun.
Zambia held reigning Champions Egypt to a gruelling 1-1 draw in
Cairo while the Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to soar as they were
held away to Mozambique 0-0.
But, the most tragic event was the death of 22 fans in the Ivory
Coast prior to the Elephants 5-0 trashing of Malawi.
What could be described as the biggest upset over the weekend as far
as the qualifiers are concerned on the continent happened in Group A
when the Azingo National of Gabon frustrated the Atlas Lions of
Morocco 2-1 in Cassablanca. Under the tutelage of Alian
Giresse, the visitors did the bravest of things to play adventurous
football, and despite the absence of top strikers Daniel Cousin and
Eric Mouloungui the Gabonese scored through Pierre Emerick
Aubamayang in the 34th minute before Roguy Meye increased the tally
eleven minutes later.
The Moroccans came hard after the interval and showed dominance as
they briefly lifted the 70,000 capacity crowd with a goal in the
84th minute through Mounil El Hamdaoui. But, the Gabonese held on
till the end to get the vital three points to make them the early
pace
setters in the group. The Visitors broke the Moroccans home record
in World Cup qualifiers with the win. Prior to the lost, Morocco had
never been beaten at home since November 11, 1981 when they lost to
Cameroun 2-0 in the 1982 World Cup Qualifiers.
In the group's other match, the Sparrow Hawks of Togo using the
Ohene Djan Stadium in Ghana as home ground due to the ban of the
Lome Kegue stadium, punished the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun 1-0,
courtesy of a goal from current African Footballer of the year
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor who leashed on a cross from play mate
Alaixys Romao in the 10th minute.
It could have been 2-0, but the Arsenal forward who had recovered
from a six week injury lay off skied a ball from the penalty spot in
the 77th minute after Jeremy Njitap Fotso of Newcastle impeded him.
Three times African footballer of the year Samuel Eto'o Fils was
virtually an ananymous figure in the match.
The win takes the Togolese to second spot behind surprise package
Gabon while continental heavyweights Morocco and Cameroun are in the
lower ranking.
The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia left Nairobi with three points after
they pinned the lethargic German Antoine Hey side 2-1. Ammar Jemal
netted the curtain raiser in the fifth minute before French outfit A
J Auxerre's Denis Oliech equalized for Kenya.
But, the Tunisians got the match winner in the 72nd minute through
Issan Jemma as they went on top of group B. This was Kenya's first
home loss in six matches after keeping a clean sheet at home in the
first round of qualifiers which further proves ex- Lone Star coach
Antione Hey tactically maladroit status.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to live up to their status as a
continental power house after they shared the points with the Black
Mambas of Mozambique at the Estadio Nacional da Machara .
The Nigerians who were without injured captain Joseph Yobo and front
runner Yakabu Ayegbani lacked the normal fluidity in their playing
style, and can count themselves lucky as two goals were cancelled
from their opponents with the second involving a major talking
point.
The two times African champs were inspired a day to the match after
midfielder John Mikel Chukuwendu Obina was declared fit of his knee
injury. The Nigerians entered the final round of the qualifiers with
a 100 percent record afetr they won all six matches, scoring 11 and
conceding just one in the previous round.
But, Coach Amadou Shaibu is already been muscled by his country's
press who claim that they achieved such feat due to weaker opponents
in, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The draw places Nigeria and Mozambique on equal pegging while
Tunisia with the Portuguese Coach Umberto Coelho are at the top of
the tree.
In group C the Desert Warriors of Algeria and the Amavubis of Rwanda
played to a scrapy goaless draw in Kigali. The draw means Algeria is
still awaiting her first away win in World Cup qualifiers since
their 1-0 win against Niger away on October 11, 2003.
Perennial under achievers Zambia's Chipolopolo surprised reigning
African champs Egyptian Pharaohs with an enticing 1-1 draw in Cairo.
Burly striker Amir Zaki put his side in front in the 26th minute.
But, the Zambians under Herve Renard cancelled the home side lead
via a strike from Francis Kasonde in the 46th minute to place both
sides as joint leaders.
The draw ended Egypt's seven consecutive FIFA World Cup qualifiers
win which indicate a lot must be done if they are to be in South
Africa next year. Sice their 1934 and 1990 appearances, the North
African side are frantically in search of making their third World
Cup finals apearance.
In group D, the Eagles of Mali under the Nigerian Coach Stephen
Keshi traveled to Omduram and earned a point after they were held to
a pulsating 1-1 draw.
2007 African footballer of the year Freddie Kanoute broke the
deadlock after 20 minutes, but the hosts found the leveller four
minutes later through Mudathir Al Tahir. The draw puts both sides in
second and third place respectively.
2008 Nations Cup host and bronze medalist Ghana Black Star are in
pole position in this group after a solitary goal win against the
Squirrels of Benin. As early as the first minute of the melee, the
four times African champs got the decisive goal through Saudi
Arabian based hit-man Prince Taego as the side coached by Milovan
Rajevac maintained their record of never been beaten in 13 World Cup
qualifiers matches in Kumasi. They have now won 11 and have drawn
two in their second largest city.
Group E witnessed a melancholic event when the talent packed
Elephants of Ivory Coast shrugged off Malawi's Flames 5-0. N'dri
Koffi scored in the first minute before Didier Tibily Drogba Yves
netted a brace in the 6th and 26th minute to end the first period
3-0.
The Ivorians picked off from where they left off in the second
stanza with goals from Confederation of African Footballer (CAF)
young player of the year 2008 Salomon Kalou and the diminutive
Bakary Kone in the 59th and 71st minute respectively to end the
match 5-0.
It is now five wins out of five in fixtures involving Ivory Coast
and Malawi.
But, the win was overshadowed by the death of twenty two fans in
Ivory Coast after a wall at the Felix Houphouet- Boigny stadium
collapsed prior to the start of the contest. Reports monitored
indicate that over 100 persons got injured. The Ivorians can however
take solace as they are on top of the group on superior goal
difference ahead of promising Stallions of Burkina Faso who mauled
Guinea 4-2.
The home side opened the flood gate through Mahamoudou Kere and a
cushion was provided by Alain Traore. Qatar based gangling striker
Moumouni Dagano scored a pair in the second half, and despite goals
from Pascal Feindouno and Kanfory Sylla, the West African derby
ended 4-2 in Burkina Faso's favor.
Dagano is now the top scorer in the qualifiers with nine goals. The
ex-Sochaux of France danger man is three goals more than Mali's
Freddie Kanoute, Benin's Razak Omotoyosi and Samuel Eto'o Fils of
Cameroun.
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