AFCON 2012: Zambia joins Equato-Guinea For Quarters

  1. Posted on Monday 30 January 2012 - 10:11
    Walter
    Image of Walter
    Walter Nana Wilson, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
    Captain Christopher Katongo's one 'Copper Bullet' shot was just timely to push forward Zambia on top spot, ahead of the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea in Group A, as they edged the AFCON co-hosts 1-0 at Stade d'Angondje in Malabo.
    Zambia_Squad_Football_Associationof Zambia
    Equatorial Guinea were without their inspirational captain Rodolfo Bodipo due to injury, while Lawrence Doe of Liberian origin was suspended after his red card against Senegal.

    Inside the first five minutes, Zambian skipper Christopher Katongo broke through the centre before squeezing his shot high and wide of the target from just outside the area.

    Soon after Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene did well to collect a testing cross by Javier Balboa from the right.

    At the break, it was goalless in Malabo. But after numerous failed attempts, Katongo finally managed to break the deadlock in the 67th minute. He stepped in off the left flank before sneaking the ball past the Equato-Guinean keeper, Danilo at the near post from just inside the area to make it 1-0.

    While the co-hosts, Equatorial Guinea go in for a quarter-finals place, some observers have seen in their loss a double blow for the Nzalang Nacional. Not only will they probably end up facing Ivory Coast in the next round, they won’t play the match in their stronghold of Bata.

    In the other Group A last match pitting Libya against Senegal, the Mediterranean Knights disgraced the Terenga Lions in a 2-1 defeat. The Senegalese quit Orange AFCON 2012 in a shameful manner, losing all three group matches.

    This is a star-studded team, initially tipped as favourite for the trophy. The Libyans have left the tourney with their heads high, winning their first AFCON match in 30 years.

    In Group B today, Ivory Coast, Angola and Sudan will do the last battle to get the two quarter tickets from that group.

    As the rules for the last group matches stipulate, both matches will be played simultaneously. Sudan takes on Burkina Faso in Estadio de Bata while Ivory Coast clash with Angola in Stade d’Angondje in Malabo.

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