Algeria, Senegal seek to secure Q/finals berths
Ghana’s Mohammed Rabiu challenges Senegal’s Papakouli Diop (R) during the 2015 African Cup of Nations group C football match between the two West African giants. Group leaders Algeria face Ghana while Bafana Bafana hope to pick up the pieces against Senegal. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
Algeria, widely tipped as favourites coming into the competition, and dark horses Senegal won their opening games and so could qualify for the last eight if both record wins against Ghana and South Africa respectively.
Billed as the toughest group at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, Group C could be done and dusted with a game to spare today.
Algeria, widely tipped as favourites coming into the competition, and dark horses Senegal won their opening games and so could qualify for the last eight if both record wins against Ghana and South Africa respectively.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars and Bafana Bafana, who threw away leads in their opening games, can ill afford a second straight defeat if they are to keep their dreams of the continental title alive.
The first game of a double-header in the eastern Equatoguinean town of Mongomo pits Algeria against Avram Grant’s Ghana, who have been waiting to see if talisman Asamoah Gyan will be able to return after he missed the 2-1 defeat to Senegal on Monday due to a mild bout of malaria.
Ghana led against Senegal courtesy of an Andre Ayew penalty but were pegged back in the second half before losing to a stoppage-time goal by Moussa Sow.
However, Israeli coach Grant, who was only recently appointed, remained upbeat as to his side’s prospects.
“As you saw the players showed good mentality and we hope it will be the same next game. But we knew that if we lost nothing would be decided,” insisted the former Chelsea manager.
Some Ghanaian fans might take it as an omen that the last time they beat Algeria at the Cup of Nations, in 1982 in Libya, is also the last time they won the trophy.
Algeria, meanwhile, come into the game after a dramatic win in their opening game.
Christian Gourcuff’s side trailed 1-0 against South Africa and only a missed penalty by Tokelo Rantie prevented them from falling further behind before they stormed back to win 3-1 with three goals in the final quarter.
Senegal face South Africa in the second game of the day as the Bafana Bafana look to bounce back from their collapse in their opening match.
“We have a mountain to climb but we are still confident that we will do well in our next match,” coach ‘Shakes’ Mashaba told South African media.
“We still have two games to go. We need to motivate the boys and get them back on their feet because understandably they are dejected.”
AFCON PLAYING TODAY
Ghana Vs Algeria (SS5 6PM)
S.Africa Vs Senegal (SS5 9.30PM)
