Now that the final
whistle has been blown and the last few balls have been kicked, AFKSports recaps six
highlights and six lowlights of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Re-live
peaks and valleys of the tournament held in Equatorial Guinea with this
slideshow.
HIGHLIGHTS: Kidiaba’s Last Dance
After only ninety minutes were played in the consolation
final contested by DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea, a penalty shoot-out was
required to separate the two sides. Thirty-nine-year-old Robert Kidiaba was
playing the final moments of his celebrated career. Kidiaba performs a
famous tic known as the ‘bum-bounce’ after his team score a goal. But
after he kept out three Equatoguinean penalties, Kidiaba sat on his buttocks
and hopped around for one last time while mobbed by loving team-mates.
HIGHLIGHTS: Gervinho’s Redemption
During the 2012 AFCON final, between Zambia and Cote
D’Ivoire, Gervinho did not volunteer to take a penalty kick. He was
nonetheless forced when the two teams were level after five
spot-kicks. Unsure of himself, the player, then at Arsenal, stepped up and
blasted over, damning his team to another ‘almost’ AFCON campaign. On Sunday
night, Renard refused to place Gervinho in the same situation, substituting
before extra-time ran out. Gervinho was too nervous to watch the penalty
shoot-out, preferring to face the supporters and watch
real-time reactions instead. When Copa Barry scored the winning penalty, a
weight evidently lifted off Gervinho’s shoulders. He could finally forget the
nightmare of 2012.
HIGHLIGHTS: Guinea and Mali Players
Play Cards While Waiting On Respective Fates
After three Group D matches, Mali and Guinea found
themselves at an air-tight stalemate. Both sides had amassed three points,
three goals for, and three goals against. According to the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) by-laws, a drawing of the lots would determine which
nation would qualify for the quarter-finals. The procedure took place at
the Hotel de Malabo where both delegations and sets of players waited. In
the run-up to the draw a remarkable image emerged of Malian and Guinean players
casually playing a game of cards. The photo is indicative of the fraternity
that pervades in this most unique of tournaments.
HIGHLIGHTS: Renard Consoles Ayew
After the final penalty kicks were dispatched and most
Ivorian players were off celebrating with the sizeable travelling contingent of
supporters that made the journey down from West Africa, cameras panned on Andre
Ayew. The Ghanaian captain was hunched over, unable to stand upright and
tears were streaming down his face. It was a beautiful, but pitiful sight.
Sensible to the pain of defeat, Renard immediately ran over and tried consoling
Ayew, albeit to no avail. It was one of the more touching scenes of the
tournament, and an example of good sportsmanship.
HIGHLIGHTS: Equatorial Guinea Shock The
Footballing World
In an international footballing climate where stratification
between ‘smaller’ and ‘larger’ footballing nations seems to grow incrementally,
Equatorial Guinea defied the odds, making it to the semi-finals of just their
second-ever tournament. Nzalang Nacional only qualified for both
editions as hosts, but the football on display from the central African nation
may lead pundits to believe that Javier Balboa and co will have much to offer
for the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
HIGHLIGHTS: Florent Ibenge
Gallantly Represents Local Coaches
Florent Ibenge continued to turn heads after
an impressive stint as coach of AS Vita Club. With his national side,
Ibenge guided the Leopards out of a group of death, and helped them
qualify for the 2015 AFCON. In Equatorial Guinea, Ibenge masterfully managed
his side, deploying Chancel Mbemba as a defensive midfielder and recalling
Dieumerci Mbokani who finished the tournament with three goals. FECOFA
president Constant Omari has now placed his full trust in Ibenge, stating, ‘We
have talented coaches in Africa. It is time we give them an opportunity.’
LOWLIGHTS: Equatoguinean
Crowd Becomes Violent
After trailing three-nil to Ghana in the AFCON semi-finals,
a portion of Nzalang Nacional fans began pelting the travelling Ghana support
with a variety of missiles. Broken dishes, concrete slabs, and partially full
water bottles were flung into the away stand. When Black Stars fans could no
longer endure the abuse, they broke out of their stand and stood behind the
pitch, waiting for security to escort them away.
LOWLIGHTS: Tunisian
Disappointment Goes Overboard
Following a disappointing two-one loss, which included its
fair share of questionable officiating decisions, an infuriated troupe of
Tunisian players chased after official Rajindraparsad Seechurn. Security
intervened just before any serious confrontation could form. After the match,
Tunisian Football Federation President Waddi Jaari accused CAF of corruption
and conspiracy. His unfounded claims may have serious repercussions if he does
not retract his statement.
LOWLIGHTS: Sipo
Suspended For Spitting
When cameras panned away, Equatorial Guinea midfielder
Armando ‘Sipo’ Sipoto spat in Wahbi Khazri’s face. Khazri dropped immediately
drawing the referee’s attention, but none of the match officials saw the
incident so Sipo got away with the act until it was reviewed by the
disciplinary committee. It was an ugly act that has no place on a football
pitch.
LOWLIGHTS: Gervinho
Sent Off For Punching Ibrahima Conte
Though he finished the tournament celebrating in his
team-mates’ arms, Gervinho and Cote D’Ivoire could have faced a very different
fate when the AS Roma man punched Ibrahima Conte in the first match of Group D.
The two players accosted and insulted one another before Gervinho lifted his
arm and threw a punch. Contact was minimal but it was enough to send the
Ivorian off and his indiscipline could have brought about extremely serious
consequences.
LOWLIGHTS: Rajindraparsad Seechurn
Mauritian referee Raijansaprad Seechurn is already infamous
in North Africa for his dodgy officiating. When Morocco played Algeria in
Annaba back in 2011, he seemed to favour the home side, forgiving some of their
more mischievous tackles and whistling the slightest Moroccan misdemeanour. A
couple of weeks ago it was Tunisia that found fault with his judgement when
Seechurn gifted hosts Equatorial Guinea a penalty in injury time. It was a poor
call and CAF suspended the referee for the remainder of the
tournament and an additional six months.
LOWLIGHTS: Naby
Yattara Almost Ends Asamoah Gyan’s Tournament
In the fading embers of Ghana’s match against Guinea,
Asamoah Gyan latched on to an Andre Ayew through chip-pass and raced in on
goal. Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara intrepidly met him at the edge of the
penalty box, with his studs aimed at Gyan’s lower midriff. The Guinean
goalkeeper was sent off for his rash challenge and Gyan was ruled out of the
semi-finals due to injury.
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