First red card in group "B" flashed on Gabonese
It's still wide open at the Nations Cup
Algeria rout Gabon in CAN match
African Nations Cup goalscorers
First red card in group "B" flashed on Gabonese
Kumasi (Ashanti), 31st January 2000
Gabonese Elgo Ondo Eric Serge is the first player to be red carded in the group "B" matches of the African Cup of Nations tournament in Kumasi.
Tanzanian referee Abdulkadir Isaack flashed the red card at Elgo in the 26th minute for kicking an Algerian player.
Meanwhile, all single cards collected during all group matches will be cancelled at the end of the group matches.
A press release by Mr Mbongo Sylvestre, President of the CAF Organising Committee Group "B", said the action is in conformity with a decision of CAF Organising Committee for the African Cup of Nations taken in Burkina Faso in February 1998.
Nevertheless, the release said, the sum of two yellow cards will entail the automatic suspension for the next matches whether it is for the group matches or the other rounds of the competition.
GRi
It's still wide open at the Nations Cup
Kumasi (Ashanti), 31st January 2000
As the African Nations Cup moves into the final phase of the group matches which start on Monday, surprisingly only defending champions Egypt and the last tournament's beaten finalists, South Africa, have booked their place in the next round. Only one country, Gabon, has been knocked out.
In Group A, which plays in Ghana's capital of Accra, not even the Black Stars, as the host team is called, is certain of progressing in the competition, although only a miracle will prevent them from going through.
Ghana can even afford a 2-0 defeat in their final match against Ivory Coast and they would still go through. Cameroon, with the easier final match against Togo, should have little difficulty in booking their place in the last eight, especially as Togo's coach Gottlieb Goeller will probably not be on the bench after a dispute with officials.
South Africa comfortably heads Group B and needs only a draw from their last match against Algeria to top the table. A draw will see the North Africans join the Bafana in the next round, while a defeat will have them look anxiously towards Accra were Democratic Republic of the Congo will be taking on Gabon in the other fixture at the same time.
DRC are three goals behind Algeria and need to beat Gabon convincingly if they want to advance.
In Group C, defending champions Egypt have an unassailable lead at the top of the table and can even afford to lose to unfancied Burkina Faso in their last match. An intriguing clash sees Zambia and Senegal, in effect, fighting it out for the second place. A draw will give Peter Schnittger's side of no-hopers, as they were termed when arriving in the Nigerian city of Kano, an unexpected place in the quarter-finals. Zambia need to win to go through.
Even in Group D, labeled the group of death, pre-tournament favourites and co-hosts Nigeria still have some work to do before playing their quarter-final. They take on Morocco in a game in which both sides know that a draw will see them both through. The other two sides, Congo and Tunisia can only advance if they achieve a result in their game and there is a result in the other one as well.
The next four days at the Nations Cup will not only bring excitement but also clarity. For eight teams the knock-out stages of the competition will begin, whilst for eight others it will mean a trip home.
So far, only South Africa, Egypt and Gabon know their fate. The other countries participating at the 22nd African Nations Cup will know theirs during the next few days.
GRi
Algeria rout Gabon in CAN match
Kumasi (Ashanti), 31st January 2000
The desert warriors of Algeria routed the Azingo Nationals of Gabon 3-1 in the group "B" of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament at the Kumasi sports stadium on Saturday night.
The artistic and resilient Algerians dazzled the defensive-minded Gabonese who had no answer to the fast dashes and superb display of their opponents.
The strike-happy Algerians confused their opponents with crisp passes and defence splitting moves after they launched a bristling attack as the Gabonese looked unsettled.
The persistent attacks of the Algerians paid off when Ghaz Farid dashed along the left and squeezed a shot into the far corner of the net as the Gabonese goalkeeper Mendome Germain dived to his left.
Farid removed his jersey, ran to the corner-post and was joined by his colleagues in jubilation.
The Gabonese seemed to have lost their spirits as they failed to offer the needed opposition allowing their opponents enough room to operate.
Gabonese playmaker Daniel Cousin sliced through the Algerian defence in the 18th minute and crossed into the path of winger Zie Nguema Theodore who missed the post narrowly.
From then on the Algerians had the ball to themselves as Gabon chased shadows, scoring the second goal in the 42nd minute when Tasfaout Abdelhafid hit the back of the net after rounding up the defence.
The Gabonese who had to play with 10 men when Elgo Ondo Eric Serge was red-carded by the Tanzanian referee Adbulkadir Issack for kicking an opponent in the 26th minute were handicapped by the numerical disadvantage and could not match the speed and skill of their opponents.
After the recess, the Algerians still dominated forcing the Gabonese into the defensive but goalkeeper Mendome very much alert made some brilliant saves.
The last minute attempt by the Gabonese fetched them a consolation goal when Haddou Moulay scored with a glancing header in the 90th minute when they pressurised the Algerian defence.
Dziri Bilal put the Gabonese beyond recovery when he scored an injury time goal with a bristling shot in a crowded goalmouth.
Earlier Kotoko lost 0-1 to Ghapoha in a curtain-raiser match.
GRi
African Nations Cup goalscorers
Accra (Greater Accra), 31st January 2000
African Nations Cup goalscorers after Friday's matches.
3 - Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
2 - Victor Ikpeba, Austin Okocha (Nigeria), Kwame Ayew(Ghana), Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
1 - Dumisa Ngobe (South Africa), Chiva Nzighou (Gabon), Adel Sellimi, Walid Azaiez (Tunisia), Marc-Vivien Foe, Raymond Kalla, Samuel Eto'o, Patrick Mboma (Cameroon), Otto Addo (Ghana), Yasser Radwan (Egypt), Tchirresoa Guel (Ivory Coast), Lantame Ouadja (Togo), Ousmane Sanou (Burkina Faso), Henri Camara, Papa Sarr, Salif Keita (Senegal), Salaheddine Bassir (Morocco).
GRi