Brilliant Syli tame the dull Elephants

01/03/2012

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Wilfried Bony and Ibrahima Diallo
Guinea national team on Wednesday forced Africa’s number team Cote D’Ivoire to a scoreless draw at their home ground of Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan in an international friendly match.

Both teams came to the meeting with different ambitions. The Elephants were in quest of maintaining their number team on the continent status and appease local fans who still held grudges from their failure to annex the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations lost to Zambia.

The Syli National wanted to repeat their 2012 Afcon healthy form and prove to the world they had only been unlucky not to reach the quarter-finals or further at the just-concluded continental showpiece.
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All even between Tunisia and Peru

01/03/2012

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Mejdi Traoui and Claudio Miguel
Tunisia and Peru played out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly at Menzah stadium in Tunis on Wednesday, with first half goals from Wissem Ben Yahia for the Carthage Eagles and Claudio Pizarro for the Blanquirroja.

Despite the slow pace that characterised the early stages of the match, Peru could’ve opened the scoring on two minutes when Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi’s attempt to dribble past Paolo Guerrero backfired badly.

It took about ten minutes for the home team to settle into the match and begin finding a passing rhythm. Youssef Msakni’s long-range effort after solid work from Saber Khlifa went close and Wissem Yahia’s free kick five minutes later were warning signs for the Peruvian defence.
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Barrada orchestrates Atlas Lions win

01/03/2012

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Abdelaziz Barrada and Germain Sanou
A goal on either side of halftime from Mbark Boussoufa and Youssef El Arabi were enough for Morocco to overcome Burkina Faso in an international friendly at Marrakech Stadium on Wednesday and ease some of the pressure off Eric Gerets.

The match began with the venue the emptiest it has ever been for a national team game since it’s inauguration last year, as many Moroccan fans were seemingly boycotting the match in protest over the Atlas Lions’ poor showing during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Those present subjected coach Gerets to a torrent of abuse before the start of the proceedings.

Curiously, Paulo Duarte was on the sidelines for Burkina Faso despite earlier reports indicating that he had been sacked for the Stallions’ first round elimination from the 2012 Afcon.
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Bafana and Senegal end goalless

29/02/2012

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Steven Pienaar and Moussa Konaté
South Africa played to a goalless draw with Senegal in an international friendly at a rainy Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday night. 

There was no intensity, not enough movement, passion or energy from South Africa, who were afforded an extra training session over their opponents.

The first half was a dull affair, with neither side employing a wealth of attacking ambition. The hosts dominated possession, with Senegal’s young side, made up mainly of Under-23 players, happy to sit back and go through the motions.
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Tanzania, Mozambique share the spoils

29/02/2012

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Whiskey and Nizar Khalfan
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars were held to 1-1 draw by Mozambique in Wednesday’s first leg 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualification game at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Mozambique drew the first blood half way through  the opening half when Clesio Bauque capitalized on slack defending by Taifa Stars to slot home past goalkeeper Juma Kaseja.

However, Taifa Stars midfielder Mwinyi Kazimoto scored with a stunning effort from almost 25 meters  out after 41 minutes to pull the teams  level. Stars had most chances in the first half but they were let down by some poor finishing.
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Gambia downed by Algeria

29/02/2012

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Sofiane Feghouli
Gambia and Algeria renewed their rivalry on Wednesday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau with the Fennec Foxes of Algeria coming from behind to beat the Scorpions of Gambia 2-1 in their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations first round first leg preliminary qualifier.

The two away goals and the lead after the first leg will make Algeria the heavy favourites to complete the job when they host Gambia for the return match in June.

Algeria started the better side with some quick counter-attacking football but they were not able to make good use of their chances. In the 20th minute, Adlène Guedioura scored what seemed like the opener but Malian referee Koman Coulibaly ruled it out for an offside.
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Kenya edge out Togo in Nairobi

29/02/2012

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Daré Nibombé
Kenya remain on course to qualifying for the next round of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers  after beating Togo 2-1 in the first leg first round match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

Sofapaka defender James Situma nodded Kenya into the lead when he connected from  a corner in the  22nd minute.

But Togo, playing without star striker Emmanuel Adebayor  who did not turn up in Nairobi equalized in the  41st minute when Razak Boukari’s  free kick beat goalkeeper  Boniface Oluoch in Kenyan goal.

Kenyan had a chance to go ahead just before the end of the first half  but Scotland based Victor Wanyama’s free kick sailed straight into the hands of Togolese goalkeeper, Atsu Mawugbe.
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The Wasps hold the Super Eagles

29/02/2012

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Eric Gasana
Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Rwanda in Wednesday's first leg 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game in Kigali.  

The Super Eagles, who were playing their first competitive match under Stephen Keshi, could not unlock the defence of the Wasps who played in front of a vociferous crowd at the Stade Regionale de Nyamirambo.
 
The west Africans started the game with a burden of expectation after they failed to qualify for the recently concluded tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
 
But the experimentation with players from the local league mixed with Europe-based players did not seem to work early on as the home side gained confidence while roared on by their fans. The Nigerians were unable to create clear cut chances, which emboldened the Rwandans.
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Preview : Liberia vs. Namibia (CAN Qualifier)

29/02/2012

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Liberia will seek to put the turmoil surrounding last week’s sacking of coach Roberto Landi behind them as they take on Namibia on Wednesday in their African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Liberia host the Brave Warriors in their first round, first leg tie in Monrovia under caretaker coach Thomas Kojo, who has stepped into the place of the Italian, who was dismissed last week.

Kojo surprised by announcing his starting line-up on the eve of the game, in contrast to the secretive practices of most African coaches. It includes Solomon Grimes and Jimmy Dixon in defence, Alseny Keita, Theo Weeks and Dioh Williams, who all play in Europe, and an attack led by Anthony Laffor and CSKA Moscow forward Sekou Jabateh.
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Preview : Burundi vs. Zimbabwe (CAN Qualifier)

29/02/2012

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The atmosphere in the capital Bujumbura remains rather quiet despite the impending 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations match this Wednesday against visiting Zimbabwe. The Burundi foreign based players (eleven) of them are in town and they visitors too have arrived.

Burundi team has been steeping up preparations for the match against Zimbabwe, to be played on February 29, 2012 at Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium in Bujumbura with kick off at 15.30 hrs local time (13:30 GMT). The home team has been on an intensive two week preparation camp and eleven foreign based players have been summoned by the Belgian coach, Adel Amrouche.   
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