EGYPT BEATS IVORY COAST AS EQUATORIAL GUINEA PREVAIL OVER MALI IN PENALTY SHOOTOUTS
Seven-time African champions, Egypt, came up against two-time champions Cote d’Ivoire in a battle between traditional African powerhouses on Wednesday night at Japoma Stadium in Douala. The Pharaohs were coming off back to back 1-0 wins over Guinea-Bissau and Sudan after losing their opening match of the group stage to Nigeria. Les Elephants, on the other hand, had been impressive in their first three games and had won their group after beating Equatorial Guinea, defending champions Algeria, and drawing 2-2 with Sierra Leone. Cote d’Ivoire scored a total of six goals in the group stages, second to Cameroon netted seven goals in their first three matches.
The Egyptians started the match brighter of the two teams and threatened with Mo Salah getting in close only to be denied by Ivorian goalkeeper Ali Badra. VFB Stuttgart man Omar Marmoush then hit from long range and rattled the crossbar with a shot outside the area.
Les Elephants were boosted by the return of Manchester United center-back Eric Bailly on defense. The 27-year-old missed Ivory Coast’s 3-1 win against Algeria after leaving the Sierra Leone game with a suspected concussion. The Ivorians then lost key man Franck Kessie after half an hour with what appeared to be a rib and hip injury.
With the Cameroonian fans in the stadium spurring them on, Egypt went on the attack and tried to carve out the Ivorian defense which proved rock-solid with Eric Bailly playing inspired soccer in his first game back.
Chances came for both teams but Cote d’Ivoire went on the offensive with Ibrahim Sangare getting an acrobatic shot off inside the box from a set-piece that was saved by Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El Shanawy. Sebastien Haller’s shot from outside the area was equally dealt with by the Egyptian shot-stopper. Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha also tried to make something happen by dribbling and getting a shot at goal. The ball went under El Shanawy in goal but he recovered to parry it away, clashing with teammate Abdelmonem.
The Egyptians then subbed in second-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Abou “Gabaski” Gabal for Mo El Shanawy who was injured after a clash with Mohamed Abdelmonem. Gabaski didn’t have to wait long to be called into action as Ibrahim Sangare let a shot go from outside the area. Gabaski was equal to it. Egypt pressed on for a winner late-on during extra time but the game ended goalless after 120 minutes and proceeded to penalties.
Cote d’Ivoire scored their first two penalties via Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe and PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahim Sangare before Eric Bailly’s penalty was saved by Mohamed Gabaski in goal. Maxwel Cornet and Wilfried Zaha buried their penalties but so did the Egyptians, whose penalties from Ahmed Sayed, Amr El Solia, Omar Kamal, and Abdelmonem had all ended up in the back of the net. Egypt’s last penalty was taken by Liverpool’s first-choice penalty taker, Mohamed Salah whose penalty sent Ali Badra the wrong way and found the right inside netting, emphatically ending the game and sending Egypt into the quarterfinals.
The loss is a devastating blow for Cote d’Ivoire who have now won only 4 of their last 10 penalty shootouts. Egypt’s 5-4 win on penalties sets up an all-North-African battle with Morocco on Sunday.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA STUN MALI IN DRAMATIC PENALTY SHOOTOUT
114th ranked Equatorial Guinea impressed when they pulled off a shocking victory against the defending champions Algeria in the group stages but did one better by beating favorites Mali on Wednesday night on penalties.
The game in Limbe was slow in comparison to the blockbuster between Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt in Yaounde earlier in the night and saw both teams register only one shot on target each in 120 minutes. Mali dominated most of the possession with 58% but couldn’t seem to take advantage of their opportunities. Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yves Bissouma cut into the box and did well to set up 22-year-old Mohamed Camara but the RB Salzburg midfielder blasted his shot high over the bar.
Mali’s manager Mohamed Magassouba will have questions asked about his tactics and changes made in the second half as he took off Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, Sarpsborg 08’s Ibrahima Kone, and RB Leipzig’s Ahmadou Haidara, arguably the team’s best players. Equatorial Guinea tried to take advantage of playing a slightly weakened Eagles side and went on the attack to try to win the game. Their one shot on target came during extra time. The Malians, however, kept a cool head and the game settled into a lull in the latter stages with both teams seemingly content to go to a penalty shootout.
Equatorial Guinea’s captain Emilio Nsue, who has been under pressure lately for his performances, stepped up to take the first penalty and missed, sending the ball high over the bar. The Malians next two penalties were perfect as Hatayspor’s Adama Noss Traore and Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo found the back of the net. Equatorial Guinea’s Carlos Akapo’s cheeky Panenka went into the back of the net to even the penalty score 2-2. Massadio Haidara’s penalty, Mali’s third, was saved by Jesus Owono. Jannick Buyla then stepped up for Equatorial Guinea and scored while Mali’s captain Hamari Traore missed, giving a 3-2 advantage to Equatorial Guinea. This meant the underdogs could win the match if they put away their fifth penalty.
Real Murcia’s Pablo Garnet was next in line for Equatorial Guinea but could not take advantage of Mali’s missed penalty as he hurried and missed. Up stepped 20-year-old Reims forward El Bilal Toure who banged the ball into the back of the net to bring the penalty score to 3-3. It was now sudden death which meant that whichever team missed a penalty while the other scored would exit the tournament. The game wouldn’t end until the eighth penalty though. Equatorial Guinea’s Santiago Eneme had given Nzalang Nacional a 6-5 advantage. Stepping up was Malian center back Falaye Sacko who hit a tame penalty that was saved by 20-year-old Deportivo Alaves goalkeeper Jesus Owono, his second penalty save of the night. The missed penalty meant that Equatorial Guinea would get to the quarterfinals for the first time since their 4th-placed finish in the tournament when they hosted in 2015. Equatorial Guinea will now face Senegal at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Sunday.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero