AFCON 2017: First round ends - 8 games, 5 draws, 3 wins, 12 goals

Gabon

Today Wednesday, January 18, is the fifth day at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) currently underway in Gabon. It also marks the first full cycle of all four groups.

So far out of the eight games honored, there has been 5 draws and three wins. Only one game has produced four goals. The same game (Algeria against Zimbabwe) has the current top scorer, African football king, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez.

On the goal front, there are a dozen goals so far and fans will be hoping that attackers will be more purposeful towards goal and deliver more than a dozen by the end of the second round of group games.

Goal tallies

Group A = 4 goals (one each for Gabon, Guniea Bissau, Burkina Faso and Cameroon)
All teams in this group have a point apiece

Group B = 6 goals (Two each for Senegal, Algeria and Zimbabwe)
Senegal by virtue of their 2 – 0 victory over Tunisia jump to the top of the log.

Group C = 1 goal (DR Congo’s strike against Morocco)
DR Congo have three points and top the table whiles Ivory Coast (Champions) and Togo have a point each. Morocco are last after the first round.

Group D = 1 goal (Ghana’s goal which sunk Uganda)
Ghana’s Black Stars top the group with three points. Egypt and Mali have a point each and Uganda will have more work to do in the second round.

First round of games over. Results read like a binary something something. With a few blips. pic.twitter.com/ZDdFJ6EIM6

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) January 17, 2017

Surprise teams: Zimbabwe’s display against Algeria was a big talking point given the strength of the north Africans but that ‘feat’ was not bigger than the performance of debutants Guinea Bissau who came from behind to salvage a draw against hosts Gabon on the opening day.

Togo’s ability to hold the Champions Ivory Coast was another highlight of the round. DR Congo beating Morocco also sent a signal that the side means business.