It’s been another great week in the African nation’s cup! With the group games having been completed we now know the line up for the quarter finals and many people will say the real tournament starts now.
The Impressive Zambians sealed their place as winners of Group A with a 1-0 win over the co-host Equatorial Guinea who also join them in the last eight. Of course we knew from week 1 that Senegal were already eliminated. however they ended their CAN campaign on miserable note with a 2-defeat to Libya meaning they lost all 3 of their games and failed t pick up a single point !.
Sudan joined Ivory Coast with in the quarter finals with a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in Group B. Gabon arguably the most impressive side in the tournament took top spot in Group C and will be joined in the last eight by
Tunisia. Meanwhile in the “group of death” Ghana and Mali made it through, the latter having to rely on the individual brilliance of Seydou Keita to confirm their qualification.
The Full line up for the quarter-finals is as follows;
04/02/12: Zambia v Sudan, Bata
04/02/12: Ivory Coast v Equatorial Guinea, Malabo
05/02/12: Gabon v Mali, Libreville
05/02/12: Ghana v Tunisia, Franceville
So the knockout stage is here and so much will be at stake. As expected Ghana and Ivory coast have made it through and could well meet in the final in a repeat of 1992.
Four more teams will be eliminated bySunday evening and it could be a wonder goal or costly mistake that condemns them to this fate.
Here’s to another weekend of great football!
Ben