By Arinze Ude.GROUP D: Ivory CoastTunisiaTogoAlgeriaIVORY COAST 2 – 1 TOGO
The Didier Drogba led Ivorians went into this game as favorites but almost went behind in the early stages when Kolo Toure miscued his pass and gifted a glorious opportunity to Tottenham striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, who failed to take the ball round the Ivorian keeper, Boubacar Barry, who palmed the ball away.
Few minutes later, Yaya Toure put the Ivorians ahead from 12 yards out when his shot defelcted off a Togolese defender and went into the net. With this goal, Yaya Toure has now scored in four of the last five Africa Cup of Nations.
Togo rallied and got back into the game when Jonathan Ayite scored from a corner before Arsenal forward, Gervinho latched unto a Yaya Toure free kick to give the Ivorians the all-important win.
Ivory Coast’s Line Up:
01 Barry – 04 K Toure, 17 Tiene, 21 Eboue, 22 Bamba – 05 Zokora, 13 Konan (Tiote – 63′), 15 Gradel Booked (Kalou – 60′), 19 Y Toure – 10 Gervinho, 11 Drogba (Wilfred – 74′)
Subs: 16 Yeboah, 23 Sangare, 03 Boka, 14 Traore, 20 Lolo, 06 Romaric, 07 Razak, 09 Tiote, 02 Kone, 08 Kalou, 12 Wilfred, 18 Traore
Togo’s Line Up:
16 Agassa – 02 Nibombe Booked (Salifou – 90′), 05 Akakpo, 06 Mamah, 09 Vincent Bossou (Booked) – 21 Dakonam Djene, 08 Amewou, 15 Romao (Booked) – 04 Adebayor, 11 Ayite (Segbefia – 78′), 17 Gakpe (Ayite – 61′)
Subs: 01 Atsu, 23 Tchagouni, 13 Ouro-Akoriko, 20 Kokou, 03 Wome, 07 Salifou, 10 Ayite, 12 Mani, 14 Segbefia, 19 Ametepe, 18 Fessou, 22 Damessi
Ref: Neant AlioumAtt: 2,000TUNISIA 1 – 0 ALGERIA
Youssef Mskani was the hero for Tunisia when his curling effort found its way into the net in stoppage time to give his side the all coveted 3 points.
The game was a very dull one, marred by the injury to Tunisian attacker, Jemaa in the 15th minute.
Both sides pressed for the winner to no avail until Mskani produced a moment of brilliance in stoppage time to help his team get all three points.
Tunisia’s Line Up:
22 Ben Cherifa – 02 Ifa, 03 Hichri, 12 chammam, 20 Abdennour (Booked) – 08 Hammami, 14 Traoui (Darragi – 46′), 21 Mouelhi, 07 Youssef Msakni (Booked) – 17 Jemaa (Harbaoui – 16′ Booked), 19 Saber Khelifa
Subs: 01 Farouk Ben Mustapha, 16 Mathlouthi, 05 Chamseddine Dhaouadi, 06 Gharbi, 18 Boussaidi, 04 Baratli, 10 Darragi, 13 Ben Yahia, 23 Khazri, 09 Harbaoui (Fakhreddine Ben Youssef – 85′), 11 Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, 15 Dhaouadi
Algeria’s Line Up:
23 M’Bohli – 03 Cadamuro (Soudani – 74′), 04 Belkalem, 06 Mesbah (Booked), 12 Medjani – 02 Sbaa, 08 Lacen, 17 Guedioura (Lemmouchia – 86′) – 10 Feghouli, 14 Kadir (Aoudia – 90′), 09 Slimani
Subs: 01 Doukha, 16 Si Mohamed, 05 Halliche, 21 Ghoulam, 22 Rial, 07 Boudebouz, 11 Bouazza, 18 Lemmouchia, 19 Bezzaz, 20 Tedjar, 13 Aoudia,15 Soudani
Ref: Bakary GassamaAtt: 8,000
