5 Feb 2012
Ghana's Andre Ayew took advantage of a goalkeeping howler in extra time as his side overcame Tunisia 2-1 in a tempestuous African Nations Cup quarter-final in Franceville on Sunday.
He needed only to tap the ball into the net from close range in the 101st minute after Aymen Mathlouthi, under no pressure and with no other players in his immediate vicinity, dropped a cross right into the path of the grateful Ayew.
The match in the Gabonese provincial town descended into a niggly affair full of vicious tackles and on-field spats as Ghana held out to book a semi-final against Zambia in Bata on Wednesday.
Aymen Abdennour was shown a red card for a vicious elbow on an opponent in the 108th minute but a kung fu style kick into the chest by Issam Jemaa soon after went unpunished by the Cameroon referee.
Ghana's Black Stars made a bright start as they continued their bid for a first Nations Cup title in 30 years when captain John Mensah scored with a header after just 10 minutes.
Mensah was returning after injury and grabbed his second goal of the tournament but was stretchered off again early in the second half after one of several bruising challenges that Tunisia got away with.
Tunisia, the last of the teams at the tournament from the traditional footballing powerhouse of north Africa, fought their way back to parity three minutes before halftime with Saber Khlifa bravely heading home after a clever lob pass from Zouhaier Dhaouadi when Ghana failed to clear their lines.
Ghana now head across to co-hosts Equatorial Guinea for their Wednesday meeting with Zambia, who defeated Sudan 3-0 on Saturday.
Earlier on Sunday, home team Gabon were eliminated in a penalty shootout by Mali after a 1-1 draw. Mali next meet the Ivory Coast.
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 Ghana's Andre Morgan Ayew |
He needed only to tap the ball into the net from close range in the 101st minute after Aymen Mathlouthi, under no pressure and with no other players in his immediate vicinity, dropped a cross right into the path of the grateful Ayew.
The match in the Gabonese provincial town descended into a niggly affair full of vicious tackles and on-field spats as Ghana held out to book a semi-final against Zambia in Bata on Wednesday.
Aymen Abdennour was shown a red card for a vicious elbow on an opponent in the 108th minute but a kung fu style kick into the chest by Issam Jemaa soon after went unpunished by the Cameroon referee.
Ghana's Black Stars made a bright start as they continued their bid for a first Nations Cup title in 30 years when captain John Mensah scored with a header after just 10 minutes.
Mensah was returning after injury and grabbed his second goal of the tournament but was stretchered off again early in the second half after one of several bruising challenges that Tunisia got away with.
Tunisia, the last of the teams at the tournament from the traditional footballing powerhouse of north Africa, fought their way back to parity three minutes before halftime with Saber Khlifa bravely heading home after a clever lob pass from Zouhaier Dhaouadi when Ghana failed to clear their lines.
Ghana now head across to co-hosts Equatorial Guinea for their Wednesday meeting with Zambia, who defeated Sudan 3-0 on Saturday.
Earlier on Sunday, home team Gabon were eliminated in a penalty shootout by Mali after a 1-1 draw. Mali next meet the Ivory Coast.
Can on-pitch action lift cloud hanging over Africa Cup of Nations?
| Upcoming Matches | |||||||||
| Simifinals | 8 Feb | Côte d'Ivoire | Mali | Head 2 Head | |||||
| Simifinals | 8 Feb | Zambia | Ghana | Head 2 Head | |||||
| Third Place | 11 Feb | -- | -- | Head 2 Head | |||||
| Final | 12 Feb | -- | -- | Head 2 Head | |||||
Drogba enjoying Elephants' smooth run
02-06-2012
ZoomIvorian captain Didier Drogba has said he is enjoying his team’s perfect run at the ongoing 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.
The highly rated Elephants reached the last four of the tournament after seeing off co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in their quarter final clash on Saturday in Bata.
Drogba, who scored a brace after missing a first half penalty, said encouragement from his colleagues aided his comeback. African Footballer of the Year, Didier Drogba scored the other goal.
“My teammates encouraged me and were very supportive. I had to get back in the game and I owe them these goals. I'm glad I did it for them and I am proud of my teammates.”
The 33-year old adds that his team has exhibited character and are poised to go farthest in the competition.
“In 2006, we were in the final and lost. In 2008, we scored many goals but failed to reach the final. Here we have shown character.”
The Elephants, winners in 1992 will face either co-hosts Gabon or Mali at the last four.
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Quarter finals
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Monday, 6 February 2012
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11:01The cash-laden Russians had been strongly linked with the Ivory Coast defender towards the end of the English transfer window and the threat of losing him remains at large
Sunday, 5 February 2012
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23:41Goal.com rates the players who participated in Sunday evening's Afcon quarter-final, as the Black Stars managed to edge out the Carthage Eagles in extra-time - 21:55A hard working Black Stars team benefited from Mathlouthi's goalkeeping error to earn a date with Zambia in the 2012 Afcon semi-finals
- 21:49A late Cheick Diabate goal gave Mali hope after Eric Mouloungui had opened the scoring, but penalties favoured the west Africans as they qualified for the semi-final
Saturday, 4 February 2012
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21:46Goal.com rates the players on show as the Elephants finally fulfill their potential in a dominant win over the co-hosts - 21:45The Elephants defeated the Nzalang Nationale in the last eight encounter thanks to the Chelsea attacker's ninth and 10th Afcon strikes and Toure's sublime set piece
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13:21The members of the governing body were sacked by the country's parliament following the death of 73 fans in a domestic match and the ousted men will not challenge the decision -
11:41The horrific events of the recent crowd disaster have left a population in mourning, yet football might be the right tonic to help the country get back on its feet again -
09:03The midfielder reveals his admiration for the Italian striker, and also claims the controversial attacker isn't as bad as the media portray him, insisting he is misunderstood - 07:18The Ivory Coast striker will see out the 2011-12 season with Chelsea before becoming a free agent when a host of clubs are expected to be interested in him
Friday, 3 February 2012
20:35
The 32-year-old says all the players refused to accept bonuses for qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations to demonstrate how much they love their country
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