AFCON 2023 - The African Mirror

Jan

27

2024

Abdou’s Midas touch takes Mauritania on history-making run

AFCON 2023

AMIR Abdou may be a little-known name in the world of coaching but has now masterminded two improbable feats in successive Africa Cup of Nations finals after leading tiny Comoros Islands and Mauritania to the knockout rounds. Neither minnow nation had come close before the 51-year-old took charge, but his ability to form a cohesive unit and tap into the countries' respective diasporas to improve their fortunes has made the little-heralded French-born tactician something of a Cup of Nations icon. On both occasions his teams have beaten continental giants to advance – in Cameroon two years ago Comoros defeated Ghana…

Jan

26

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Eclectic cast rubbing shoulders with superstars at Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

Stars like Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen are the headline acts at the Africa Cup of Nations but they rub shoulders at the tournament with journeymen who, for a fleeting week or two, get to enjoy an extraordinary opportunity. The African championship boasts an increasingly eclectic cast of characters, particularly in recent decades with the expansion of the tournament to 24 teams, with many countries searching for talent beyond their shores. It means a musician playing football in his spare time was among the more than 600 footballers at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, along with a…

Jan

26

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisia coach resigns after surprise Cup of Nations exit

AFCON 2023

JALEL Kadri has left his role as coach of Tunisia following the side’s surprise early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations having finished bottom of their pool in the Ivory Coast on Wednesday and not met his pre-tournament goal of a semi-final place. Kadri, who led the side at the World Cup in Qatar where they beat France, announced in a post-match television interview following the 0-0 draw with South Africa that confirmed their elimination. Speaking to beIN Sports, Kadri said his contract would automatically expire since Tunisia failed to reach the semi-finals, which was the minimum requirement. When…

Jan

26

2024

By The African Mirror

Salah will ‘100%’ return for AFCON final if he recovers: Klopp

AFCON 2023

MOHAMED Salah will definitely return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if he recovers in time from injury and Egypt reach the final, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. The 31-year-old winger returned to England for treatment after picking up a hamstring injury in Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana last week. Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has said Salah is expected to return to action in three to four weeks if there are no setbacks in his recovery. The AFCON final is on February 11. "Egypt and Liverpool both have the same interest, we want Mo Salah fit as soon…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

DR Congo advance to Cup of Nations last-16 after Tanzania draw

AFCON 2023

THE Democratic Republic of Congo has set up a last-16 clash with record seven-time winners Egypt after playing to a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in their final Africa Cup of Nations Group F fixture. The Congolese finish second in the pool with three points following a trio of draws and advance along with group winners Morocco, who take on South Africa in the next round. It was a game of very few chances for the 12,847 crowd at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium but they could at least celebrate that Ivory Coast had secured a place in the last-16 as…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisia out of Africa Cup of Nations after South Africa draw

AFCON 2023

TUNISIA limped out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a whimper after they were held to a 0-0 draw by South Africa in the sweltering heat of Korhogo, a result that sends their opponents into the last-16. The onus was on Tunisia to make the play as they needed a win to move off the bottom of Group E, but they created very little in the contest and failed to break down a resolute South Africa. Mali tops the pool with five points from their three games following a goalless draw with Namibia, with South Africa in second…

Jan

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Namibia qualify for Cup of Nations last-16 for first time

AFCON 2023

NAMIBIA qualified for the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time as they held Mali to a 0-0 draw in their last group game on Wednesday. Namibia qualified as one of the four best third-placed finishers after they ended their Group E campaign with four points. Mali won the group with five points and South Africa were second also with four, finishing above Namibia after beating them 4-0 on Sunday. Tunisia were eliminated after they drew 0-0 with South Africa in the other Group E game. Group winners Mali advance to a last-16 meeting with…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Mauritania claim historic win to dump Algeria out of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MAURITANIA served up another shock result at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals to dump 2019 winners Algeria out of the tournament with a 1-0 victory and seal a historic place in the last-16 at the Stade de la Paix. Mauritania had never led in any of their previous eight matches at the continental finals, let alone won a game, but a first-half goal from Yali Dellahi was enough to send Algeria packing in a second successive embarrassing early exit for coach Djamel Belmadi’s side after a similar failure in 2021. Angola took top spot in Group D with…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Cameroon rally to advance to last-16 after Cup of Nations classic

AFCON 2023

CAMEROON fought back with two goals in the closing stages to edge Gambia 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations finals and advance from Group C after being minutes from elimination. Defender Christopher Wooh netted a dramatic stoppage-time winner to put the Indomitable Lions second in the group behind Senegal. They finished ahead of Guinea on goals scored while Gambia were eliminated after a third successive loss. Cameroon had to claw their way back in a game of relentless attack and end-to-end action to keep alive their hopes after falling 2-1 behind with only five minutes…

Jan

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Gambia coach Saintfiet quits after Cup of Nations exit

AFCON 2023

GAMBIA coach Tom Saintfiet quit minutes after his side’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations despite a sterling effort to try and secure a place in the last-16 at the expense of five-time winners Cameroon. The 50-year-old Belgian said his contract was running out in August but he would be leaving immediately. The Gambia was his 10th job as a national team coach and by far his most successful. He qualified the small West African country for their first Cup of Nations in Cameroon two years ago and then took them on a giant-killing run to the quarter-finals. They…