AFCON 2023 - The African Mirror

By JOEL OMOTTO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

IVORY Coast ended almost two decades of home misery at the Africa Cup of Nations by becoming the first tournament host to reach the final since Egypt in 2006. It has been one of the many peculiarities of the African championship that host countries have struggled for success despite having all the advantages of playing at home. The Ivorians' 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday’s semi-final has set up a decider against regional rivals Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday and the chance to deliver on an investment in stadiums and other infrastructure estimated to be over…

Feb

2024

The Moroccan referee who has overcome cultural barriers and gender stereotypes to make history at AFCON 2023

BOUCHRA Karboubi is blazing a trail through the beautiful game. While there has been a laudable increase in the number of female referees at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the appointment of six women, only one has been given the mandate to officiate as a centre referee, with the rest working as either assistant referees or Video Assistant Referees (VAR). That honour was bestowed on Morocco's Karboubi, who became the second woman, and first Arab woman, to officiate a men’s AFCON match. She followed in the footsteps of Rwanda’s Salima Mkansaga, who made history at the 2021…

Feb

2024

Halle strikes as Ivory Coast reach Cup of Nations final

SEBASTIEN Haller sent hosts Ivory Coast into the Africa Cup of Nations final as they beat Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in Wednesday's semi-final at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium. Haller's 65th-minute goal continued a remarkable recovery by the Ivorians who were almost eliminated in the group phase but will now take on Nigeria in Sunday's final. Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties in Wednesday's other semi-final in Bouake. Striker Haller missed two other good chances and Franck Kessie struck the woodwork in a deserved win for Ivory Coast.

Feb

2024

Ivory Coast fancied to continue Cup of Nations revival

HOSTS Ivory Coast are fancied to continue their remarkable revival at the Africa Cup of Nations and ride a frenzied wave of home support as they seek a place in the final with victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two meet in Abidjan on Wednesday just hours after Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in the first semi-final. The winners advance to Sunday’s final in Abidjan. The Ivorians have put aside their stuttering start to the tournament, including a humiliating 4-0 loss in the group stage to tiny Equatorial Guinea, to reach the final four, roared on by…

Feb

2024

South Africa coach Broos brings a touch of good fortune to team’s cause

VETERAN coach Hugo Broos might not have had a convincing run in charge of South Africa before the Africa Cup of Nations finals but when it comes to the tournament the 71-year-old Belgian is proving to have the Midas touch. Former Belgium international Broos won the continental title with Cameroon in 2017, taking a side given little chance before the start all the way to the winners’ podium and seven years later has led equally unfancied South Africa to the last four. They will be considerable underdogs when they face Nigeria in Bouake on Wednesday but Broos’ team confounded the…

Feb

2024

Success possible for DR Congo 50 years after last Cup of Nations triumph

THE Democratic Republic of Congo suddenly has a chance of unexpected Africa Cup of Nations success as they prepare to take on hosts Ivory Coast in Wednesday’s semi-final in Abidjan 50 years after their last triumph. The Congolese might be perennial participants, this being their 19th Cup of Nations tournament, but they have long since not been considered a major force in the African game, losing the prominent position they once held after decades of political instability, and economic and infrastructure decline. As the former Zaire, they won the Cup of Nations in 1974 and the same year went to…

Feb

2024

South Africa goalkeeper the hero as they reach Cup of Nations semi-finals

SOUTH Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in the post-match shootout against the Cape Verde Islands to carry his country into the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final. Mothobi Mvala scored the decisive kick to make it 2-1 on penalties and win South Africa a semi-final place for the first time since 2000 but they were fortunate to get past the smallest nation in the tournament at Charles Konan Banny Stadium. South Africa now takes on Nigeria in Bouake in their semi-final on Wednesday. It was a game full of…

Feb

2024

Ivory Coast score last-gasp goal in extra time to reach semi-finals

HOSTS Ivory Coast kept up their incredible escape act at the Africa Cup of Nations as they came from behind to beat Mali 2-1 in Saturday’s quarter-final, scoring a last-gasp goal in extra time to book a semi-final with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oumar Diakite got a touch to Seko Fofana’s strike to win the game for the Ivorians, who played with 10 men for most of the match after Odilon Kossounou was sent off shortly before halftime. Mali had taken a 71st-minute lead through Nene Dorgeles but the home team, roared on by the crowd at the Stade…

Feb

2024

DR Congo book Cup of Nations semi-final berth with 3-1 win over Guinea

THE Democratic Republic of Congo came from a goal behind to beat Guinea 3-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium and join Nigeria in the last four. Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku scored the goals as the Congolese recovered from conceding an early penalty to secure victory and a semi-final berth for the first time since 2015. Mbemba had given away a penalty when he shoved Mohamed Bayo in the box to allow the Guinea striker to score after 20 minutes but the Congolese captain made up for his error seven…

Feb

2024

Nigeria beat Angola to advance to Cup of Nations semi-final