First Legs Recap

September 8, 2012:

Ten of the fifteen first legs have already been completed. It has been disastrous for the away teams of the first leg so far. Only three of the ten road nations managed a draw, and the other seven matches were won by the home teams.

Matches:

Zambia 1, Uganda 0

Central African Republic 1, Burkina Faso 0

Gabon 1, Togo 1

Ghana 2, Malawi 0

Liberia 2, Nigeria 2

Sierra Leone 2, Tunisia 2

Mali 3, Botswana 0

Cape Verde Islands 2, Cameroon 0

Sudan 5, Ethiopia 3

Ivory Coast 4, Senegal 2

Most Entertaining matches of Day 1: Ivory Coast-Senegal; Sudan-Ethiopia

Going into these matches, most people saw the Ivory Coast and Senegal as the biggest match of the qualifiers. It lived up to its billing as Senegal managed to throw dents into the Ivory Coast defense. In the last seven years, the Ivory Coast managed to give up only one goal at home. Today, they gave up two goals, but lucky for the Ivory Coast, they scored four times.

An east African derby provided some rather tense drama as well, as Sudan takes a two-goal advantage going into Ethiopia next month. Yet, despite having a 3-1 halftime lead, Sudan would give up the next two goals and the game was tied at 3-3.

Most crucial goal: Emmanuel Adebayor

One of the key figures in Togo's run to World Cup 2006, Adebayor left soccer, with the 2010 Togo bus massacre as the main reason for the self-imposed exile. Yet his tying goal leaves Togo in a very good position to reach AFCON 2013.

Fairytale coming true: Central African Republic

No team from Africa has caused as much a sensation, not only on the continent, but worldwide, as the Central African Republic. Once ranked 202 in the world just two years ago, the Central African Republic stunned Egypt to reach this stage, and now have one foot on the door that is AFCON 2013. They need to get at least a draw against Burkina Faso, but things are really looking great.

An honorable mention must go out to the Cape Verde Islands, who have a shocking two goal advantage going into Cameroon in October.

The timeline of the day



September 9, 2012: 
The remaining five ties have completed their first legs. Only one team managed to win away, and that match was actually played in Casablanca, Morocco. With the game looking to remain scoreless, Algeria scored a vital goal to take an advantage going into their second leg at home against Libya.

Matches:
Zimbabwe 3, Angola 1
Mozambique 2, Morocco 0
DR Congo 4, Equatorial Guinea 0
Libya 0, Algeria 1 (game played at Casablanca)
Guinea 1, Niger 0

Another upset alert: Mozambique in good position
Some of the heavyweights in Africa struggled in its first legs yesterday, and Morocco was another victim to an upset. As was the case with Cameroon yesterday, Morocco failed to score on the road and are down 2-0 going into the second leg. 

A fluke: Equatorial Guinea's humbling in the second half.
This past AFCON 2012, Equatorial Guinea soared to new heights as the country not only reached the quarterfinals of an AFCON tournament, but it was the first team to do so for the 2012 edition. Yet, today and that tournament proved to be night and day.

The last time Equatorial Guinea played a qualifier for an AFCON tournament was in 2008 (at that time, that qualifying portion doubled with that of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup). It has been 1562 since Equatorial Guinea last won an AFCON qualifier. They had a chance with the a scoreless draw at halftime, but Congo DR had other answers.

A team to really watch: Congo DR
In the 1970s, Congo DR, which was called Zaire, set the standard for African football in that decade. It was the first sub-Saharan country to reach a FIFA World Cup. 

Yet, Congo DR has not reached an AFCON tournament since 2004. With eleven goals in their three qualifying matches, including four today, Congo DR is looking to make some noise should they reach South Africa.


The timeline of the day

Equatorial Guinea vs Congo DR

Equatorial Guinea made progress en route to a shocking run to this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON), playing against countries it had never previously met. Now, the country has been drawn to play Congo DR for the first time ever, but this time with a spot at AFCON 2013 at stake.

Having played in its first AFCON tournament in its history, Equatorial Guinea surprised many people by reaching the quarterfinals. The country reached the final eight on the strength of two dramatic victories in Bata. The first game came against Libya, when ex-Real Madrid striker Javier Balboa scored the only goal in the game. Four days later, David “Kily” Alvarez Aguirre scored in stoppage time to become the first team to reach the quarterfinals, while eliminating Senegal from AFCON 2012.

Equatorial Guinea’s run to the quarterfinals is even surprising, especially given the country’s football history. 

The country first game was against China in 1975, but Equatorial Guinea would not win its first game until 1999. Over several years, Equatorial Guinea would reach its highest ranking in March 2008, with Juvenal Edjogo-Owono as captain. Despite missing out on AFCON 2008,  Equatorial Guinea notched a memorable 1-0 victory against Cameroon in which Juvenal scored.

Congo DR, on the other hand, is looking to rekindle its glory days in the mid-1960s and 1970s. Congo DR, called Zaire at the time, won AFCON in 1968 and 1974. The country also qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, defeating Zambia and Morocco in the final round and became the first sub-Saharan nation to reach the FIFA World Cup.

After reaching the World Cup, Congo DR went into a tailspin. The country would not qualify for AFCON until 1988. Four years later, Congo DR would reach seven consecutive AFCON tournaments, which included a third-place finish at AFCON 1998 against Burkina Faso and four quarterfinal appearances.

Congo DR is looking to reach the AFCON group stage for the first time since 2006. The country had reached this stage of AFCON 2013 qualifying by winning both legs against Seychelles, 4-0 in Victoria, Seychelles and 3-0 at home in Kinshasa.

Congo DR has a mix of players playing domestically and internationally. Among some of the leagues Congo DR’s players participate in include Germany’s Bundesliga, Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League, France Ligue 1 and even Major League Soccer, for which Steve Zakuani plays for the Seattle Sounders.

However, many players are part of TP Mazembe, Congo DR’s most successful team. Several players, including Dioko Kaliyutika, who scored two goals in the first leg against Seychelles, still play for the team, known for its surprising run to the final of the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

Since AFCON 2012, Juvenal scored both goals in a 2-2 draw against Sierra Leone in World Cup qualifying. Days earlier, Equatorial Guinea had a 1-0 lead at halftime against Tunisia, but lost 3-1. After winning their two games against Seychelles, Congo DR started its World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 loss in Cameroon, but won days later at home against Togo 2-0.

Congo DR made light work of Seychelles. Can they do the same for Equatorial Guinea and make it to AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.

Sudan vs Ethiopia

Sudan made a dramatic statement this past year at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Now, Ethiopia looks to do the same as well, as two original teams from the inaugural AFCON in 1959 meet, with a berth at South Africa at stake.

A pioneer of African football, Ethiopia, along with Sudan, played its first AFCON game came in 1959. That game came in the final against Egypt and lost 4-0. Three years later, Ethiopia won AFCON 1962. But after reaching AFCON 1982, Ethiopia had regressed dramatically.

Ethiopia’s last real chance to qualify came was for AFCON 2004. On July 3, 2003, Ethiopia lost to Guinea 3-0 to finish third in its group for qualifying.  The country’s darkest day came on September 12, 2008. Despite having played four qualifiers, Ethiopia was officially disqualified from contention for AFCON 2010 (which doubled with that of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying).

Ethiopia would be reinstated a year later, but in qualifying for AFCON 2012, Ethiopia managed to finish third in their group, courtesy of their two victories against Madagascar. Yet, the country did show improvement, as the country had a hand in knocking out Nigeria from AFCON 2012. Most of the players on Ethiopia roster play domestically, with Oumed Oukri, Adame Girma and Shimeles Bekede as the star players. Following the qualifiers, Ethiopia focused on its first World Cup qualifiers, where the country eased past Somalia 5-0 after a scoreless first leg.

On the road to AFCON 2013, Ethiopia began at home with a scoreless draw against Benin. But after Benin scored first in the second leg, Adane Girma had scored the away goal against Benin to finish 1-1. That result has sent Ethiopia on the cusp of reaching its first AFCON since 1982.

Just like Ethiopia, Sudan had a proud history as a pioneer of African football, winning AFCON 1970. But Sudan went into the wilderness for roughly 30 years. 

But during AFCON 2008 qualifying, Sudan not only qualified, but the country defeated Tunisia 3-2 to finish atop its qualifying group. Faisal Agab scored five goals, which was tied for most with five players helped Sudan qualify for its first AFCON tournament since 1976. Despite being eliminated in the first round, Sudan returned to AFCON four years later, as the country finished as one of the two best runners-up. In AFCON 2012, Sudan broke long droughts to reach the quarterfinals. Mohammed Bashir scored Sudan’s first goals in an AFCON game in 36 years. Four days later, Mudather El Tahir scored twice against Burkina Faso to help Sudan win its first game in AFCON since 1970, the last time Sudan reached the AFCON knockout stages.

In between its two draws against Benin, Ethiopia continued its FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 1-1 draw at South Africa in Rustenburg. Days later, Ethiopia would win 2-0 against the Central African Republic to sit top of its group after two games. Said Saladin scored both goals in that victory, Ethiopia’s first World Cup qualifying win since April 9, 2000. After the quarterfinals, Sudan attempted to prove its recent run was no fluke. Sudan avenged its quarterfinal loss to the eventual champions Zambia by winning at home 2-0.  Despite a stunning scoreless draw against Lesotho, Sudan also sits atop its qualifying group after two games.

With this East African rivalry reacquainted, which country will continue its momentum toward AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.

Nigeria vs Liberia

After a tumultuous two years, Nigeria is looking to head back to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), nearly 20 years after setting the standard in African football. Liberia stands in its path to returning to Africa’s biggest stage, who will look to reach AFCON for only the third time.

Nearly 20 years ago, Nigeria set the standard for African football, as the nation was ranked fifth in the world, the highest ranking ever for an African nation, two months before World Cup 1994.

Brothers Ikechukwu and Kalu Uche have scored goals for Nigeria at major tournaments and qualifying. The older brother scored two goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while Ikechukwu scored a goal that almost sent Nigeria to AFCON 2012. However, a late goal at home to Guinea would send Guinea throught and Nigeria out of the tournament altogether.

Two of Nigeria’s most capped players have been playing for the national team for over a decade. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who has been voted as best goalkeeper in AFCON tournaments previously, has had a knack for goal scoring also, particularly in penalty kick situations, while Joseph Yobo is Nigeria’s most capped player of all time with 87 appearances, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu and Mudashiru Lawal for most in the country.

Liberia, on the other hand, has appeared at AFCON only twice, in 1996 and 2002. Both teams were led by its greatest player in the country’s history, George Weah. In their first AFCON tournament, Liberia would have played Nigeria, who was the defending champions in the tournament. However, Nigeria withdrew prior to AFCON 1996. Liberia, it its first AFCON game, played at Durban’s Kings Park Stadium won 2-1 against Gabon. The goal Liberia gave up proved costly because Liberia would miss out on the quarterfinals on goal difference: Liberia lost to Zaire 2-0, and Gabon beat Zaire by the same score line.

Liberia would soon feel even more heartbreak in 2002, as the country blew leads against Mali and Algeria before losing to Nigeria 1-0 on a goal by Julius Agahowa and missing out again.

Since AFCON 2002, Liberia has struggled to be one of the top teams in Africa. Yet, Liberia did play spoiler to the Cape Verde Islands, who was threatening to shock Africa and reach AFCON 2012, avenging an earlier 4-2 defeat with a 1-0 victory in Paynesville.

Liberia has reached this stage of the 2013 AFCON qualification process by virtue of a Dioh Williams goal in the first leg against Namibia, and that was the only goal in the two legs from that matchup. For Nigeria, they were held scoreless in Rwanda before Ikechuku Uche and Ahmed Musa scored the only goals for Nigeria as the country survived.

In between its AFCON qualifiers, Liberia suffered a 3-1 reverse in Senegal and held Angola to a scoreless draw. Nigeria, for its part, beat Namibia 1-0 and tied at Malawi 1-1. In addition to the AFCON 2002 meeting, the nations met recently in a friendly, which Nigeria won 2-0. Nigeria had also lost in friendlies against Egypt and Peru earlier this year.

Will Nigeria make amends after failing to reach AFCON 2012, or will Liberia upset the odds and reach South Africa? The answer will come this October.

Togo vs Gabon

Togo has been through a tumultuous odyssey that has been tragedy and disappointment since reaching its first World Cup in 2006. Now, the country is looking to return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Gabon standing in their way of a spot in South Africa.

Even before the country played in the World Cup, Togo was in the headlines for off field issues. The big story that arose in Togo came when its coach threatened to quit prior to the World Cup. Although its coach managed during the group stage, Togo went out of the tournament with only a Mohamed Kader goal and no wins or points.

During qualifying for AFCON 2008, a plane crash killed 20 member of Togo. Emmanuel Adebayor has been the central figure in Togo to its first ever World Cup, to go along with three AFCON tournaments. However, not only has Togo never advanced past the group stage, but in the 2010 edition, following a deadly bus attack, Togo withdrew from the tournament. With the government ordering the team to come home immediately and not participate at AFCON 2010, Togo was handed a two-year ban by Africa’s governing body (CAF), prompting Adebayor to retire.

Yet, Africa’s governing body lifted the ban, and Togo was allowed to compete in qualifying for AFCON 2012. The country suffered a fourth place finish in qualifying, managing just one victory in eight qualifiers. After the AFCON 2012 qualifying phase, Togo nearly suffered a huge embarrassment: the country began qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the first round. The first leg was a head-scratching 1-1 draw in Guinea-Bissau. Despite winning the second leg 1-0 at home, Togo got their goal courtesy of Guinea-Bissau’s goalkeeper Jonas: a third-minute own goal which Togo was able to hang on to the next round.

In contrast, Gabon has been an African team on the rise. In AFCON 2010, Gabon missed out on a quarterfinal place. Despite winning against Cameroon 1-0 on a goal by Daniel Cousin, Gabon lost on tiebrakers to Zambia and Cameroon.

As co-hosts for AFCON 2012, Gabon did not disappoint, as like the other co-host Equatorial Guinea, Gabon reached the quarterfinals after two games. The main player on Gabon responsible for just its second ever quarterfinal appearance was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Despite being the only player to miss a penalty kick against Mali in the quarterfinals, Aubameyang scored all three goals in the group stage: none proved more dramatic that the game winner he scored against Morocco.

The teams had meet in qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Gabon defeated Togo in the first meeting 3-0 on the field, a result that remained the same by forfeiture due to Togo fielding an ineligible player. Togo would win the second meeting 1-0. The teams have also met in seven friendlies, the most recent coming less than a month prior to the 2010 World Cup.  Togo continued its World Cup qualifying with a 1-1 draw at home to Libya and a 2-0 loss in Congo Dr. Gabon began its campaign with a scoreless draw in Niger and a 1-0 home victory against Burkina Faso.

Can Togo overcome tragedy and put it aside for the country to return to AFCON? Will Gabon emerge as a new power in African football? The answer will come this October.

Mali vs Botswana

Earlier this year, Mali defeated Botswana in an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage game, en route to a third place finish. Now, Mali and Botswana meet again in a playoff, with the winner qualifying for AFCON 2013 in South Africa.

Mali will be looking to reach AFCON for the seventh time since 1994, and Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita has been the captain to lead the country. Keita has scored 19 goals in 72 appearances for his country, and will be looking to play in his sixth AFCON tournament. Since 2000, Keita has been responsible for Mali’s success in AFCON, with his two goals against Angola in AFCON 2010 as the signature moment in a game which ended in a 4-4 tie after Mali was down 4-0 against the hosts.

Keita scored the game winning goal against Botswana in AFCON 2012 in Libreville, Gabon. In the quarterfinal against Gabon, Keita scored the winning penalty kick against after Chieck Diabete had scored five minutes from regulation. Diabete helped Mali to its best finish in the AFCON since 1972, when he scored all three goals in the knockout stages: the other two goals came against Ghana in the third-place game.

Mali’s surprising 2-0 victory against Ghana may seem like a real surprise. However, that surprise does not pale in comparison to the odyssey Botswana completed over the past two years.

Prior to the start of qualifying for AFCON 2012, Botswana had won only three away games in AFCON qualifying. However, Botswana began their qualifying campaign with a shocking 1-0 upset at Tunisia, with Jerome Ramatlhakwane scoring the first of his five goals. The nation only scored seven goals in qualifying, but all of Botswana’s eight qualifying game had been close. 

Botswana won four qualifiers by 1-0, the third which came in Chad on March 26, 2011.  When Botswana won in Chad, they qualified for AFCON 2012 faster than any other team, aside from the co-hosts.

Dipsy Selowane scored Botswana’s first goal in a major competition, while Mogakolodi Ngele scored to tie the game against Mali in AFCON. However, Botswana struggled in its debut and lost all three games, being outscored 9-2, six of which came in their second group stage game, despite the fact that Botswana still had a chance to reach the knockout stage.

Prior to AFCON 2012, Mali and Botswana had only met for qualifying for AFCON 1996. Mali defeated Botswana in both previous meetings: 3-1 in Gaborone, Botswana on January 8, 1995 and 4-0 in Bamako, Mali on July 16, 1995.

Since AFCON 2012, Botswana has had mixed results. After a 3-0 victory against Lesotho, Botswana tied Iraq 1-1. Botswana has struggled in World Cup qualifying. Botswana lost to the Central African Republic 2-0 and tied AFCON 2013 host South Africa 1-1. Mali has had mixed results as well. After losing a 2-1 friendly to the Ivory Coast, Mali began World Cup qualifying with a head-scratching 1-0 loss in Benin. Mali would rebound days later with a 2-1 victory over Algeria.

By reaching AFCON 2012, both clubs have had the luxury of a bye for qualifying. Both teams had also met in the same group. Now, which nation will go to AFCON 2013? The answer will come in October.

Algeria vs Libya

Algeria is hoping to return to a major competition. Libya, is hoping to qualify for a competition the country was supposed to host. A North African derby will be reacquainted for a spot at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Since 1980, Algeria had performed well in Africa and sometimes on the world stage. A country remembered for its upset of West Germany at World Cup 1982, Algeria would finish in the top four in five of seven AFCON tournaments from 1980 to 1992, including winning AFCON 1990 as the host nation. 

However, Algeria was disqualified for AFCON 1994, and the country struggled for the next 14 years, culminating in its worst ranking in June 2008.

Few expected Algeria to even qualify for the 2010 World Cup. However, with Madjid Bougherra as captain, Algeria managed to reach AFCON 2010 and the 2010 World Cup, the latter done through a one-game playoff against Egypt. In AFCON 2010, Algeria managed to score only once in the group stage, courtesy of Rafik Helliche against Mali. Strangely enough, that goal would propel Algeria to a fourth place finish. Months later, Algeria fought valiantly in the 2010 World Cup, as the country drew England 0-0 and allowed only two goals, but still finished last. Along with Bougherra, Islam Slimani has provided a scoring option, as he has scored four goals in his first four games.

Algeria has reached this round courtesy of two impressive victories against Gambia: a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in Bakau, Gambia and a 4-1 rout at home in Blida, with Slimani scoring in the second leg. Prior to that, in the first leg, Algeria tied Gambia through a goal by Anter Yahia, the same player who scored the decisive goal against Egypt in the one-game playoff to send Algeria to the 2010 World Cup.

Libya is hoping to reach just its fourth ever AFCON tournament, but the first time in consecutive tournaments. This situation would have already happened, as Libya was originally scheduled to host AFCON 2013. However, due to the Libyan Civil War, South Africa replaced Libya as hosts on September 28, 2011. Libya was stripped of its automatic spot for AFCON 2013.

However, despite civil war, Libya managed to qualify as one of the two best runners-up in qualifying for AFCON 2012. Although eliminated in the group stage, Libya won its first ever AFCON game outside of home soil against Senegal. That victory has helped Libya to its best ranking ever. With many of those players still on the team, Libya is looking to emulate the glory days of the 1980s. In that period, Libya hosted AFCON 1982 and finished as runners-up. The country also missed out on qualifying for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, losing to Morocco 3-1 on aggregate.

Despite being the only North African nation to have not grace a FIFA World Cup, Libya has started strong. Following the 2-1 victory over Senegal in AFCON 2012, Libya sits atop its group after two games in FIFA World Cup qualifying.  A dramatic 2-1 home win against Cameroon came days after Libya tied in Togo 1-1. After AFCON 2012 qualifying, Algeria has managed victories in friendlies against Tunisia and Niger. Algeria began World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 rout at home against Rwanda, but felt 2-1 to Mali in a game played in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Which North African nation will survive this derby and qualify for AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.