The fourth day of the Africa Cup of Nations marks the entry into the running of Côte d’Ivoire, opposed to Equatorial Guinea, while the clash between Tunisia and Mali promises in a group where Mauritania and The Gambia will find it difficult to exist.
We summarize everything in this third issue of the CAN newspaper, our daily meeting until the final on February 6.
What happened on Tuesday
Group E. Algeria misses its start. Title holder and unbeaten for 34 games in all competitions, Algeria, the tournament’s favorite, failed to force the lock once morest Sierra Leone (0-0), who had not played in CAN since 1996, and has won only one of their last thirteen games.
For their opening match at the Japoma Douala stadium in Cameroon, the Fennecs lacked punch and precision. They mostly came across an Imperial Guardian. Mohamed Kamara has indeed shown himself to be impassable, author of magnificent parades and always well-felt outings. Elected man of the match, the young goalkeeper received his trophy in tears. “I have a feeling of regret, loose Djamel Belmadi, the Algerian coach. Today, we failed in our task, we did not do what was necessary. Now we have to win all the matches. “
Group D. Nigeria surprises Egypt. The Nigerian collective subdued Egypt (1-0), where star Mohamed Salah was very isolated, in the first shock of the Africa Cup of Nations, in Garoua. The “Green Eagles” flew over the pyramids with ease, masters of the ball, much more powerful physically and incisive. Nigeria produced the title contenders’ best impression in the most interesting game since the start of the competition, despite a duller final half hour. Unleashed in his left lane, Nantes winger Moses Simon in particular showed all the colors to the “Pharaohs”. One of his irresistible climbs brought the Nigerian goal, signed Kelechi Iheanacho, a control-recovery sequence in the top corner (30th) on a nice pass from Joe Aribo, from the head. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was very disappointing, hitting just 14 first-half balls and throwing Egypt into doubt.
Group D. Sudan and Guinea-Bissau back to back. Missed opportunity on both sides. The two teams neutralized each other at the Roumdé-Adjia stadium in Garoua in a scoreless match where chances were slow to come (0-0). The Djurtus, led by their experienced coach Baciro Candé, were hoping to score. It missed. As for the Sudanese, who have just dismissed their French coach Hubert Velud, they came with less ambitions but they did not do less well.
The program for this Wednesday
Group F. Tunisia – Mali (14 hours on BeInSport)
It’s the shock of the day. Tunisia climbed to the final of the Arab Cup where it only lost to Algeria, the reigning African champion. The partners of Wahbi Khazri, who will also play their qualification for the World Cup-2022 during a last jump-off, easily qualified for this CAN by achieving almost a perfect course (5 wins, 1 draw). Opposite, Mali arrived in Cameroon with a lot of ambitions. The Eagles, who have just qualified for the 2022 World Cup play-offs, have also lined up the successes (5) in the qualifiers. Their last clash ended in a Tunisian victory (1-0). It was in June, during a friendly match.
Group F. Mauritania – Gambia (5 p.m. on BeInSport)
Last of its group during the World Cup-2022 qualifiers, Mauritania, which turned the page Corentin Martins in October. She is trained by the Franco-Portuguese Didier Gomes Da Rosa. The Valenciennois Abeid and the striker Adama Ba passed by Auxerre and Niort, will have the mission to start the competition in the best way once morest The Gambia, one of the weakest nations. Beaten by New Zealand (2-0) and largely dominated by the Morocco B team (7-2) in friendly matches, Gambia advance with many doubts.
Group E. Equatorial Guinea – Ivory Coast (20 hours on BeInsport)
Equatorial Guinea has everything to gain and will not face the Ivorians in a particularly tough group (also with Algeria and Sierra Leone). In qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, she is second, just two points behind Tunisia. Faced with it, Côte d’Ivoire, which failed to make it through the World Cup qualifiers by falling in the last match once morest Cameroon, is aiming for the semi-finals. At least. “If we play it is to win it, at least to arrive in the last four, insists the coach Patrice Beaumelle. But if we arrive in the last four or the final and lose, we will be disappointed! “Only problem, the Ivory Coast lost its goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, suspended” provisionally “for doping on Tuesday. Patrice Beaumelle, explained that Gbohouo, 33, had tested positive in November following the defeat (1-0) once morest Cameroon in the World Cup-2022 qualifying. The coach mentioned an ophthalmological treatment taken by Gbohouo without formally making the link with the positive control.
The player to watch: Sébastien Haller
He is the top scorer in the current Champions League. Sébastien Haller (27), the center-forward of Ajax Amsterdam, took over from Didier Drogba in Ivorian hearts. If he grew up in the southern suburbs of Paris, was trained in Auxerre and selected for the France team until the Espoirs, Haller opted for Côte d’Ivoire, his father’s country of origin. Scorer from his first selection in November 2020, he became the striker the Elephants were waiting for. “Seb has reached maturity, he scores goals, walks on water, he is a dad, it is only happiness for him”, enthuses his coach Sébastien Beaumelle, who convinced him to play for the orange jersey
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