Before the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Equatorial Guinea just over a week ago, Algeria, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Cameroon and Senegal were among those touted as favourites, but with the third and decisive group games to start today, the big boys are facing a fight to survive their groups. GROUP A Burkina Faso were seen as dark horses, and favourites to survive Group A along with Gabon. However the Stallions are at the bottom of the group with just a point from two games and face the daunting task of beating in-form Congo to survive. Gabon have three points and will not find the additional point they need to survive easy against hosts Equatorial Guinea. TABLE Congo, 2, +1, 4 Gabon, 2, +1, 3 EQG, 2, +0, 2 Burkina, 2, -2, 1 RESULTS SO FAR Equatorial Guinea 1:1 Congo Burkina Faso 0:2 Gabon Equatorial Guinea 0:0 Burkina Faso Gabon 0:1 Congo GROUP B Favourites or dark horses Tunisia are top of the group, but are by no means assured a place in the last 8. The Carthage Eagles tackle Congo DR and will be eliminated if they lose and Cape Verde beat Zambia. They may however survive with a loss if Zambia beat or draw with Cape Verde. TABLE Tunisia, 2, +1, 4 Cape Verde, 2, +0, 2 Congo DR, 2, 0, 2 Zambia, 2, -1, 1 RESULTS SO FAR Zambia 1:1 Congo DR Tunisia 1:1 Cape Verde Zambia 1:2 Tunisia Cape Verde 0:0 Congo DR GROUP C This is a minefield. At least one of the trio of favourites Algeria, Ghana and Senegal will certainly be eliminated. Algeria need to beat Senegal to be sure of staying on, while the Senegalese only require a point from the game. Ghana also need a win against the impressive South Africa to be sure of progress. The South Africans look to have run their race, but a win over Ghana and a Senegal win would see them through. TABLE Senegal, 2, +1, 4 Algeria, 2, +1, 3 Ghana, 2, +0, 3 South Africa, 2, -2, 1 RESULTS SO FAR Ghana 1:2 Senegal Algeria 3:1 South Africa Ghana 1:0 Algeria South Africa 1:1 Senegal GROUP D Cameroon and Cote dIvoire were favourites to take this group, but whoever wrote the script forgot to send Mali and Guinea a copy. Ahead of the last round, all teams are dead equal - with two points each, same head-to-head stats, same goal difference and same goals scored and conceded. Now one of the Cameroonians or the Ivoirians is almost certain to fall by the wayside after both clash on Wednesday. The only way both can survive is if they play a higher score draw than Guinea and Mali, but given the playing styles so far, the clash between the Syli Nationale and the Eagles is likelier to produce more goals. TABLE Cameroon, 2, +0, 2 Cote dIvoire, 2, +0, 2 Guinea, 2, +0, 2 Mali, 2, +0, 2 RESULTS SO FAR Cote dIvoire 1:1 Guinea Mali 1:1 Cameroon Cote dIvoire 1:1 Mali Cameroon 1:1 Guinea
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 05:46:53 +0000
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