By Arinze Ude
Zambia 1-1 Nigeria
The Chipolopolo of Zambia held Nigeria to a draw at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit yesterday.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty when winger, Ahmed Musa was hacked down by defender Davies Nkausu but Mikel Obi’s tame effort refused to find the target.
Mikel Obi made ammends for his penalty miss when he charged down Chisamba Lungu, before releasing a through ball to striker, Emmanuel Emenike, who calmly poked the ball home.
The Zambians were gifted a penalty in the 85th minute after rookie, Ogenyi Onazi was harshly ruled to have fouled Southampton striker, Emmanuel Mayuka in the box.
Zambian goalkeeper, Kennedy Mwene, a seasoned penalty kick taker for his club and country, stepped up and earned a point for his country.
Both countries need to win their last group match against Ethiopia and Burkina Faso to move into the Quarter-finals.
Zambia’s Line Up:
16 Mweene – 04 Musonda, 06 Nkausa, 13 Sunzu, 18 Mbola (Booked) – 19 Sinkala (Booked), 08 Chansa (Sakuwaha – 73′), 17 Kalaba, 03 Chisamba Lungu (M Mulenga – 66′) – 11 Katongo (Mbesuma – 66′), 20 Mayuka,
Subs: 22 Munyao, 02 Kasonde, 05 Himoonda, 10 Katongo, 14 Chivuta, 15 Njobvu, 21 Sakuwaha, 23 M Mulenga, 07 J Mulenga, 09 Mbesuma, 12 Chamanga
Nigeria’s Line Up
01 Enyeama – 03 Echiejile, 14 Obobona (Booked), 22 Omeruo, 17 Onazi – 10 Mikel, 13 Ogude, 20 Igiebor (Obiorah – 76′) – 07 Musa Booked (Uche – 89′), 09 Emenike (Booked), 11 Moses (Brown – 79′)
Subs: 16 Ejide, 23 Agbim, 02 Yobo, 06 Egwueke, 21 Oshaniwa, 04 Obiorah, 08 Brown, 12 Gabriel, 15 Uche, 18 Uzoenyi, 19 Mbah
Ref: Gehad Grisha
Att: 25,000
BURKINA FASO 4-0 ETHIOPIA
10-man Burkina Faso earned their first AFCON win in 22 attempts when they comfortably strolled past the Ethiopians yesterday, their last win was in 1998 on home soil when they reached the semi-finals.
Ethiopians started brightly but things went awry for them when their captain and goal scorer in the first game, Adane Goma, was stretchered off in agony.
Burkina Faso finally settled into the game and took the lead via a tremendous strike by Alain Traore.
Burkina Faso keeper, Soulama was dismissed in the first half for handling the ball outside his box, but this didn’t slow them down and Alain Traore doubled their lead in the 74th minute before Djakaridja Kone made it three.
Playmaker, Jonathan Pitroipa, who put in a man of the match display, put the icing on the cake with a goal in the 90th minute.
This win takes Burkina Faso to the acme of Group C while Ethiopia, searching for their first AFCON win since 1976, remains at the bottom of the group table.
Burkina Faso just needs a point from the final game against Zambia to qualify for the knock-out stage. Ethiopians must beat Nigeria to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Alain Traore shot himself to the top of the goalscorer’s chart with his brace yesterday; he now has 3 goals in the tournament. He is closely followed by Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike, who has 2 goals.
Burkina Faso’s Line Up:
16 Soulama (Dismissed) – 04 Kone, 08 P Koulibaly, 12 Panandetiguiri, 05 Koffi – 06 Kone, 10 Al Traore, 11 Pitroipa (Booked), 18 Kabore (Balima – 90′) – 20 Sanou (Diakite – 64′), 15 Bance (Rouamba – 64′)
Subs: 01 Diakite, 03 H Traore, 07 Rouamba, 13 Ouattara, 14 Balim, a17 Rabo, 21 Ab Traore, 02 Dah, 09 Dagano, 19 PP Koulibaly
Ethiopia’s Line Up
23 Tadelle – 02 Debebe, 05 Hailu, 10 Bogale, 17 Tesfaye (Booked) – 08 Megersa (Zinabu – 43′), 14 Teshome, 18 Bekele (Kebede – 55′), 21 Hintsa – 07 Said, 19 Grima (Assefa – 12′)
Subs: 01 Bancha, 04 Butaco, 06 Girma, 12 Elias, 03 Zinabu, 15 Estifanos, 16 Saleh, 20 Assefa, 09 Kebede, 11 Oukri, 13 Ibrahim
Ref: Bernard Camille
Att: 35,000