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Senegal ELIMINATED From AFCON ‘Ba and Cisse Return Early’
OVERATED AFCON Tournament Favorites Senegal fell to Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Group A play at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, thus eliminating them from advancement in the tournament.
As a result,Newcastlestrikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse will be returning to the club at an earlier date than expected.Senegalstill have a third group game to play on Sunday, so it is doubtful that they would be able to return for the Magpies’ league match atEwoodParkinBlackburntwo days later. However, they should be ready to go for the February 5 clash with Aston Villa on Tyneside.
Senegal was a heavy favorite to advance out of group play, and the play of Cisse and Ba was disappointing in that they did not score, but they did not lack for opportunities. The squad’s poor showing actually helps the chances of Cheik Tiote’s Cote d’Ivoire team, who will play a Group A team in the quarterfinals if and when they advance. Cote d’Ivoire faces Burkina Faso in their second group game on Thursday, and they can secure advancement if they win and if Angola defeats or draws Sudan.
If the Ivorians were to advance as far as the semifinal round, Tiote would not be able to return toNewcastle until the February 25 match with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Sports Direct Arena.
David Kily’s stunning stoppage-time strike sent co-hosts Equatorial Guinea into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and left Senegal facing up to the ignominy of elimination after just two games.
Kily struck a long-range effort deep into time added on after Moussa Sow’s 89th-minute strike for Senegal had cancelled out Randy’s opener after 62 minutes.
The winning goal sparked emotional scenes at the final whistle, with the result far beyond the expectations of the players or their fans at the Estadio de Bata.
Laurence Doe saw red for Equatorial Guinea in the seventh minute of stoppage time after picking up a second booking for apparent time-wasting, but he will only miss his side’s final group game, now little more than a dead rubber.
Despite a miserable recent history at this tournament, Senegal came into this year’s edition as one of the favourites for the title, but a second defeat in as many games has delivered a terminal blow to their chances, with Amara Traore’s men now unable to qualify from Group A in their final game.
Victory for Equatorial Guinea came hot on the heels of their 1-0 win over Libya and leaves them leading the way in the group ahead of their final outing against Zambia, who sit second on four points after a 2-2 draw with Libya earlier today.
The match was played in tricky conditions after the pitch at the Estadio de Bata was saturated earlier today in a heavy downpour ahead of the Libya-Zambia match.
The weather forced the kick off the early to be pushed back by 75 minutes, and the same delay was applied to the evening’s late kick off, when conditions were much drier but still problematic enough to prevent a free-flowing encounter.
The conditions no doubt played a part in a forgettable opening 45 minutes which produced little in the way of presentable chances, but the game opened up after the break, with Guinea’s Thierry Fidjeu and Senegal’s Papiss Cisse trading shots in the minute after the restart.
Narcisse Ekanga headed over for the co-hosts on 58 minutes as the game continued to open up, and the first goal duly arrived after 62 minutes.
Kily was the architect, his precise cross from the right met by Randy with a firm header from six yards.
Mamadou Niang and Sow went close to pulling Senegal level inside the final 15 minutes, but they had to wait until the 89th minute to get back on level terms, Niang teeing up Sow, who fired home emphatically from close range to seemingly keep Senegal’s hopes in the tournament alive.
But there was sting in the tail to come, and it arrived four minutes into stoppage time when Javier Balboa picked out Kily from the left channel, and the defender unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards to sent his side through to the last eight in the most dramatic of circumstances.
There was still time for Doe to see red for Guinea late on, but even that could not dampen the scenes of jubilation both on the pitch and in the stands.
Posted by
Kalulete
January 26, 2012 at 7:37 am
Oooh no favourite is leaving. so senegal is favovrite 4 leaving da afcon 2012 wat asupriz .GO ZAMBIA GO ZAMBIA MAYBE IT’ S OUR TURN
Elijah mwango in kzu
January 26, 2012 at 7:46 am
There goes highly rated Senegal. With Ba and Cisse failing to perform at National level. Next Morocco start warming up to join yo fellow farvourites Senegal. Viva chipolopolo boys u stil hv a betr chns to qualify evn a drw is enough fo u. Gud luck
ldl
January 26, 2012 at 8:18 am
Goodnew 4 zambia.
bashi chalwe
January 26, 2012 at 8:47 am
Which favorite now? futball is played on the pitch bane…. Zambia will definately beat E/Guinea bliv this!!!
Vitumbuwa
January 26, 2012 at 8:59 am
Initially some select media were saying Zambia are the wiping BOYS…..If so, how about Senegal?
boogie
January 26, 2012 at 10:33 am
We need to increase the number of attacking midfielders . This game against e/guine is not a small for us
Chipubachandi
January 26, 2012 at 10:35 am
Oh, yes, they were reading the table from upside down!
Senegal
Libya
Zambia
Equatorial Guinea
According to this table read upside down, Senegal are the favourite and they are on top of Group A
Go, Zambia, Go!!!!
Mulenga E. Cosmas
January 26, 2012 at 10:59 am
A very good performance from the Zambian Team. However, personaly I am disappointed by the quality of the SuperSport panel. They predicted a win by Senegal against Zambia on Saturday. Lol that was a lie and as if that was not a lesson they vehemently stated that Senegal was going to beat the hosts. Honestly, these chaps are a let down because they failed to see that this tournament will be full of upsets. Who would believe that Ghana could only beat the Zebras by a goal? I am fed up with those bafoons dressed in suits and wasting my time giving fake analysis. I salute Dennis Lota for his coolness and sober mind each time he participates in the discussion.
NEVIDO
January 26, 2012 at 11:22 am
Senegal have swallowed a bitter pill. Football is played on the pictch not on paper. Viva the COPPER BULLLETS.
demba ba
January 26, 2012 at 12:15 pm
zambia are the favourite of lifting the afcon title.
chisomo
January 26, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I LIKE THE WAY ZAMBIA IS PLAYING.NDIWATAILA KAMTENGO ”I CONGRETULATE THEM”
ALIBUZWI ALIBUZWI JR
January 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm
bamwenako ba senegal,go go zambia
1silly
January 26, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I love Senegalese men
JK
January 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Senegal av a story to tell abt Zambia wat a shame….!they thot we play by name its actually in europe nd nt in Zambia…Go chipolopolo.
sadi
January 26, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Senegal has learnt it a hard way. Vi va Chipolopolo boys!
JO BOY MNT
January 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Kwashala ghana na ivory coast balemwenako, AFCON is meant for african based players,coz it’s played in africa thats y abasene full of professional players batantwila…viva zambia localise them we’re behinde u…..
Wren
January 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Suppose we qualify as second in our group and Ivory Coast as first in group B, can Sunzu, Himonde, Musonda, & Chisamba mark Drogba, Kalou, Gervinho & the likes? Our defence needs to improve. The two goals scored by Libya last night were all defensive errors from Sunzu and Chisamba. I appreciate the efforts of Nathan Sinkala but when the boy is tired please Renard help Isaac Chansa in the midfield with a midfielder like Clifford Mulenga or Felix Katongo. Chansa is often overworked in the midfield especially in the second half. Last night’s game was ours had we utilised the clear chances we had about three of them, one missed by Kalaba, another by Felix Katongo while the other by a very disappointing Mbesuma performance. Christopher Katongo i repeat he is too selfish on goal despite scoring the second equaliser. Nkausu made a good cover up for Chisamba Lungu in the second half. Mbesuma’s introduction was waste of a substitution. We need to seriously start looking for a goal keeper once we come back. Mwene seems to be suffering from misjudgement. He is just not to be trusted in goal. Bravo Mayuka and Skipper katongo and to all the lads for at least not losing hope and for coming from behind to equalise. You tolerated because of the floods in that ground. Let’s beat Equitoria Guinea on Sunday and avoid the likes of Ivory Coast in the quarter finals presupposing that they top group B. No big team in football. Wishing Ba & Cisse safe flights back to Newcastle, guess their fans there will be glad to have them soonest.
Ex-CBU-CS
January 26, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Overating yourself even in politcs is not good.The way Senegal was over-rated is not different from the way the UPND over-rate themselves.Please learn a lesson from this
kabezo
January 26, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Go zambia i wish you all the best!! you have really improved am so proud of you!!!
sata
January 26, 2012 at 3:51 pm
please leave upnd alone.pf is messing up big time ,we are back in unip days
GUN
January 26, 2012 at 4:36 pm
The nigerian analyst on SS4 never has good words for zambia,chi color chakwe asswhore.
Thomas
January 26, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Agony is being a Senegal coach knowing that the remaining game is imaterial.yaba watching from home on TV wen u had a chance to be on the pitch .
art
January 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
@ Wren. U r the same kind of individuals (senegal worshipers)who questioned the same before zambia vs sengal match..asking whter Himoonde, Sunzu and the rest of zambia’s backline would manage to handle the likes of Cisse and Ba. After we hammer Ivory Coast, you shall certainly shift to Ghana and ask the same questions wther Sunzu and his backline mates would handle the ghanain stikers..lol!! Lets not keep jumping frm one question to the other like kids.
Sando
January 26, 2012 at 6:57 pm
We went as underdogs. first game we became good. Second game,we are the cream. Wait for the third game and we will be called ……..