Sport

DAY 13 AFCON 2015

January 31, 2015 11:49 pm

Host edge Tunisia to book semi-final ticket

Equatorial Guinea, 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) host, booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Tunisia in extra-time.

The first real chance of the match fell to Tunisia after 30 minutes but Sassi’s header from six-yards out went wide.

The hosts had a chance of their own to go ahead in the 39th minute as Mathlouthi picked out Javier Balbao on the edge of the box but his effort was cleared by Aymen Abdennour.

On the resumption of the second half, Tunisia went close to scoring the first goal but Ahmed Akaichi 51st minute strike forced Ovono into a brilliant save from distance.

The opening goal eventually arrived in the 70th minute, as Yaacoubi’s pass picked out Akaichi, who wasted no time to put his side ahead.

The host almost equalised in the 82nd minutes as Aymen Mathlouthi came to Tunisia’s rescue with a fantastic save to deny Obama Nsue Ondo an equaliser.

The game was forced into extra time, as the hosts were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, which Balboa converted with ease.

The same player then scored the winning goal, his third in the tournament, in the first half of extra time from a free-kick.

Line-up

Tunisia: Mathlouthi, Youssef, Abdennour, Ragued, Chikhaoui (c), Maaloul, Sassi, Mathlouthi, Khazri, Akachi, Yakoubi

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Gomez, Mangue, Travieso, Bosio, Lopez (c), Balboa, Aquerico, Viera, Esono

Congo DR defeat Congo to earn last-four place

Congo DR came from a two-goal deficit to book their place in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations semi-final after a 4-2 win over Congo.

Both sides were over cautious in the opening exchanges characterised by robust defending.

All that changed at the start of the second half as they looked more positive in their approach.

Congo DR almost took the lead in the 53rd minute when Bokila hit the underside of the crossbar with a shot on goal.

But it was Congo though, who took the lead in the 55th minute.

Ndinga played a free kick into the box and Ferebory Dore was there to steer the ball home from close range and give his side the lead.

In the 62nd minute, Congo went 2-0 up.

Poor defending from their opponent presented Dore with the ball and his strike was parried by Kidiaba, but Thievy Bifouma was on hand to blast home to extend the lead.

Congo DR were back in the game three minutes later courtesy a fine play from their their Barclays Premier League player, Yannick Bolasie who found space down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Mbokani who finished off from only a couple of yards out.

They got the much needed equaliser in the 75th minute after Loteteka Bokila’s initial shot on goal was pushed away by Mafoumbi but DRC kept possession and Bokila scored on his second attempt.

With the momentum on their side, Congo DR found their noses in front in the 81st minute as substitute Kimwaki’s free kick found the bottom corner of the Congolese goal mouth to make it 3-2.

DRC then took the game beyond their nearest but not so dearest neighbour as they secured victory with a fourth goal in the 90th minute.

Mbokani found his way past the opponent’s defence before shooting straight at Mafoubi, but the rebound fell back to him and he wasted no time to give his side a two-goal cushion.