North African nations star as hosts Gabon wobble
Nothing was ever going to be spot-on or a cakewalk affair in the infant stages of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon. It is a grade of the competition where some giants start slow while the minnows tend to gain ground as the tournament progresses.
Case in point, Zimbabwe, whose Warriors’ outfit led 2014 World Cup finalists Algeria only to draw 2-2 in their Group B opener. Mind you that was Zimbabwe’s return to this continental stage in 11 years. But first taste of the meal can either force you to order for more of the same or try other options for good.
Star-studded Algeria, favourites for many, never recovered from that slip against Zimbabwe. George Leekens’ outfit bowed out of the competition after losing to Tunisia and failing to beat Senegal. Owing to the weight of expectation, Belgian boss Leekens resigned. Similar talk has lingered around Zimbabwe counterpart Callisto Pasuwa and Uganda’s Micho Sredojevic. Making it past the group stages can be that a tall order. Algeria was overshadowed by a powerful Senegal and Tunisia. The Desert Foxes are the only North African outfit that failed to progress to the final eight. The rest including Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt are all through. This is the highest tally North Africa has sent to the quarterfinals since the 2000 Afcon edition in Ghana and Nigeria.
Morocco is the reason holders Ivory Coast are home. The man in the white shirt Herve Renard knows his way around this showpiece. Having helped the Ivorians win in 2015, Renard crossed to join the Atlas Lions and his intel got them past his former employers. The French tactician is now chasing his third Afcon title in four editions. Beat that! Record seven-time winners Egypt are back with a bang. Topping Group D after displaying tortoise pace against Mali vindicates their pedigree. Abdallah Said’s late strike and Mohammed Salah’s stunning free-kick got Hector Cuper’s charges 1-0 wins over Uganda and Ghana. They are three matches away from an eighth title.
Clinical Tunisia, tutored by Henryk Kasperzack who got them to the 1996 final, are joint highest goal scorers with six goals like Senegal and DR Congo. The latter’s Junior Kalonji has been a stand-out with three goals, crafting some beauty of skill on the left flank of coach Florent Ibenge’s set-up. After only 12 goals in the opening group eight matches, some extra 40 have were scored amid beaming heat in the forested nation. The quarterfinals may be gripping but it will be hard-fooled to expect many more goals here. On top of this, the state of the pitches in Port-Gentil and Oyem should offer better in the remaining week of this competition. It has also been disappointing to see hosts Gabon bow out of the tournament this early. An Afcon tournament host last exited this early back in 1994. It was Tunisia. That breeds an inevitable dampener on the tournament where it is supposed to hit its peak. The hosts will have to be content with watching games devoid of a Pierre Aubameyang or often-booed Didier Ovono.
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