It’s South Africa versus Ghana

Gabon, Congo DR out of CAN 2000

South Africa, Algeria draw 1-1

Africa Cup of Nations standings

By Evans Owusu

Accra (Ghana), Thursday 3^rd February 2000

True to predictions before last games, South Africa topped Group B of the on-going CAN 2000 tournament to set a re-stage of their 1996 showdown with Ghana, perhaps the only difference being the shift in venue as the Bafana Bafana played host the other time.

In their last game honoured at the Kumasi Sports Stadium yesterday the Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with the Desert Warriors of Algeria to earn seven points to lead the Group followed by the North Africans who bagged five to place second.

It was the tournament’s leading scorer Thurston Bartlett who netted the fastest goal of the competition when he moved deep into Algeria’s vital area to connect a shot across goal in the second minute to put South Africa ahead.

From then on the Bafana Bafana who appeared content with their points had in previous matches, played as if there was nothing at stake and allowed Algeria to control the game.

Eight minutes into the second half Algeria managed with an equaliser when a shot by Moussouni Fawzi deflected off the boot of defender Lucas Radebe to beat his goalkeeper Johannes Vonk.

The Algerians would meet Group A leaders, Cameroon at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday 6^th February.

The Democratic Republic of Congo drew 0-0 with Gabon at the Accra Sports Stadium. Both teams failed to qualify for the next stage of the tournament after placing third and forth respectively in Group B. They have since returned home.

It was Gabon who were more purposeful and should have carried the day after a brilliant second half display but poor marksmanship robbed them of the opportunity.

Congo kicked off strongly and launched an attack into Gabon’s vital area but it was short-lived and the Gabonese took over with good play on the wings where man-of-the-match Theodore Zue Nguema and Jonas Ogandaga operated.

The Gabonese raid brought them pretty close in the 28^th, 43^rd, 72^nd, 78^th and 83^rd minutes but like in their other matches they were robbed by inexperience as they either delayed with a final application or effected it poorly.

The draw leaves Congo third on the table with two points and the only side in the competition not to have scored a goal in the 16-nation tournament.

Gabon however leaves at forth placed in the Group after thrilling fans with their entertaining but goal-shy soccer.

With Group B matches also played there remain only Group D encounters to be honoured today to push the competition into the knockout level.

At the Surulere Stadium at 15 GMT today, Nigeria will encounter one of their stiffest opposition as they host the Atlas of Morocco.

Playmaker Austin Jay Jay Okocha has appealed to the fans to comport themselves in times of difficulty.

The Nigerian fans went wild on 28 January and pelted the players with objects that made play difficult when the Super Eagles were finding it difficult to find the net in their match against less fancied Congo.

Tunisia will also play Congo in a prayerful mood hoping for a slip by either Morocco or Nigeria, which could brighten their chances of qualification into the quarterfinals. The Tunisians who are tied with Congo at one point are hopeful of beating their opponents at Kano this afternoon to pick a ticket alongside the winner of the Lagos match to advance into the next stage.

Six clubs that have so far reached the quarterfinals are Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt and Senegal.

A total of 47 goals have been scored in the competition with 22 matches played, which gives an average of 2.1 per match.

In the goal-king race, South Africa’s Thurston Bartlett leads with four goals to his credit, followed by 1998 goal-king Hossan Hassam of Egypt. Ghana’s Kwame Ayew, and Nigeria’s Victor Ikpeba and Austin Okocha are tied with two goals.

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Reports from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan say players of the national team, the Elephants have been detained at a military barracks on arrival, after they failed to qualify for the next stage of the competition.

The military junta in that country says the players are being detained "in their own interest’.

The report say the players were being protected from local angry soccer fans who may want to assault them.

The national team failed to qualify for the next round after faring poorly in the CAN 2000 tournament even though they finished by beating Ghana 2-0 in their last Group A match.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3 Feb 2000

The Azingo Nationals of Gabon, salvaged their image with a 0-0 drawn game against the Zimba of the Democratic Republic of Congo in their final group B match of the Africa Cup of Nations played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

But both sides were shown the exit of the tournament as they failed to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The Gabonese, who are saying goodbye with one point, lost 1-3 to both South Africa and Algeria in their first two matches and even a win in today's match would not have taken them anywhere.

However, a win for the Congolese would have enhanced their chances but they failed to shine and wasted all their scoring opportunities.

Not only that, their king pin at the defence and skipper of the side Kasongo Kabwe was shown the red card by Moroccan referee Al Arjoune Abderrehim for a reckless tackle on a Gabonese attacker Nzighou Shiver Star in the 64th minute.

The Gabonese, who played a much-improved game, failed to take advantage of their numerical strength to score. They lacked imagination up front and therefore messed up each time they came close to scoring.

Man-of-the-match, Zue Nguema Theodore of Gabon, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Congolese, failed to utilise two golden chances in the 33rd minute and 89th minute.

In spite of their mishap, the Congolese fought back relentlessly in the last 20 minutes of the game for the leader but gave up hope five minutes to the final whistle when it was announced that South |Africa and Algeria had settled for a 1-1 draw in Kumasi and therefore, were the qualifiers in group B.

South African topped with seven points and second-placed Algeria with five points.

South Africa will, therefore, meet Ghana at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday while Algeria face Cameroon on the same day at the Accra Sports Stadium at the quarterfinals.

Line up: (RD Congo): Mayala Nkueni, Kasongo Kabwe, Yuvuladio Kitutele/Bageta Dikilu, Bakasu Esele, Mukando Ndjeka, Kasongo Banza/Mbungu Mpuiu, Mangituka Missilou, Sinda Dinzy, Kifu Apataki, Yemweni Ngidi/Nsilulu Makaya, Bazamba Epotele (Gabon) Moubamba Cedric, Mombo Tristan, Mouyouma Dieudonne, Zue Nguema Theodore, Jonas Ogandaga/Ossey Armand, Nzighou Shiva Star, Mbanangoye Zita Bruno, Mvie Nguema Chantry, Mendome Germain, Londo Dieudonne/Cousin Daniel, Nsi Akue Rene.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 3 Feb 2000

South Africa and Algeria settled for a 1-1 draw in their last group "B" match of the 22nd African Cup of Nations at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

The result, therefore, pitches the Black Stars, group A runners-up against South Africa, who topped group "B" with seven points, in the quarter finals on Sunday in Kumasi while the second-placed Algerians take on Cameroun in the second quarterfinal match in Accra the same day.

Thurston Bartlett, South Africa's key striker, shot his side ahead in the first minute after receiving a cross from Thabo Nngomeni from the left to register his fourth goal and the highest so far in the competition.

The Algerians hit back and in the 12th minute earned four corner kicks in a row but wasted all of them.

They kept the pressure on the South Africans and in the 28th minute, goalkeeper Johannes Vonk brought down Algeria's Saib Moussa in the penalty box but Ethiopian referee Tessema Hailemalak ignored it.

The Algerians again came close to equalising in the 39th minute but Moussouni Fawzi's header was cleared on the goal line by the defence for a corner kick, which was wasted.

The North Africans came back from the recess with greater determination and deservedly snatched the equaliser in the 53rd minute through Fawzi, whose low grounder beat goalkeeper Vonk.

From then on, they dominated play and came close to scoring in the 65th minute but Saib Moussa's goal-bound shot was scooped from the goal line.

Apparently satisfied with the score line, both sides were not seen in any serious action again from the 80th minute till the end.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3 Feb 2000

Africa Cup of Nations group standings after Wednesday's final matches.

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