By Biwah Bryan

Ivory Coast’s Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso scored in each half as the hosts completed a 2-0 Group A victory over Guinea Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations opening game played in energy-sapping humidity on Saturday..

Fofana scored a superb shot from the edge of the box to give his team a fourth-minute lead, while Krasso redeemed himself with an acrobatic finish just before the hour after missing an earlier chance.

Krasso then secured Ivory Coast’s victory with a second goal in the 58th minute capitalizing on hesitant defending and performing an acrobatic finish.

Despite several missing players through injury, Ivory Coast secured a positive start to their campaign in front of a 36,000 crowd.

Although their performance was far from perfect, Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset will still know the importance of the three points gained at this early stage of the tournament.

Guinea-Bissau started the second half strongly, a lack of accuracy in their final passes meant they missed sever
al opportunities to score.

Next up, Ivory Coast will face Nigeria, while Guinea-Bissau will take on Equatorial Guinea, with both games scheduled to be played at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Garry Rodrigues scored in the second half added time to help Cape Verde secure a 2-1 win over the Black Stars of Ghana.

It was heartbreaking moment for the Black Stars who have now failed to win their first matches in the three successive tournament.

The Black Stars struggled in the opening minutes of the game as the Blue Sharks dominated possession.

The dominance from Cape Verde paid off in the 20th minute after Jamiro Monteiro tapped home from close range with goalkeeper Richard Ofori fumbling in post.

Ghana’s first goal attempt came in the 27th minute after Ransford couldn’t connect clean from a Gideon Mensah cross.

Majeed Ashimeru found the back of the net in the late stages after a beautiful hit but referee Jean Jacques Ngambo Ndala disallowed the goal as Semenyo was adjudged to be an offiside.

The decision to disallow the goal sent the stadium almost quiet after the massive roar from the crowd when Ashimeru scored.

Cape Verde kept their 1-0 lead intact as the game went into recess.

The Blue Sha
rks started the second half like they did in the first with the Black Stars kept on the back foot.

But the Black Stars restored parity in the 55th minute after Alexander Djiku headed home from Jordan Ayew’s corner kick.

The Black Stars seem to have restored thei confidence after scoring the goal and nearly took the lead but Joseph Painstil couldn’t convert the opportunity.

Ghana took control of the game and Andre Ayew’s introduction seemed to have gingered the players on the field.

Ofori Richard pulled up a brilliant save to deny Jouanne Carbal from close range.

But it was a disastrous ending for the Black Stars as they couldn’t hold on and were punished by Rodrigues’ late strike.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

Ivory Coast’s Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso scored in each half as the hosts completed a 2-0 Group A victory over Guinea Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations opening game played in energy-sapping humidity on Saturday..

Fofana scored a superb shot from the edge of the box to give his team a fourth-minute lead, while Krasso redeemed himself with an acrobatic finish just before the hour after missing an earlier chance.

Krasso then secured Ivory Coast’s victory with a second goal in the 58th minute capitalizing on hesitant defending and performing an acrobatic finish.

Despite several missing players through injury, Ivory Coast secured a positive start to their campaign in front of a 36,000 crowd.

Although their performance was far from perfect, Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset will still know the importance of the three points gained at this early stage of the tournament.

Guinea-Bissau started the second half strongly, a lack of accuracy in their final passes meant they missed sever
al opportunities to score.

Next up, Ivory Coast will face Nigeria, while Guinea-Bissau will take on Equatorial Guinea, with both games scheduled to be played at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Garry Rodrigues scored in the second half added time to help Cape Verde secure a 2-1 win over the Black Stars of Ghana.

It was heartbreaking moment for the Black Stars who have now failed to win their first matches in the three successive tournament.

The Black Stars struggled in the opening minutes of the game as the Blue Sharks dominated possession.

The dominance from Cape Verde paid off in the 20th minute after Jamiro Monteiro tapped home from close range with goalkeeper Richard Ofori fumbling in post.

Ghana’s first goal attempt came in the 27th minute after Ransford couldn’t connect clean from a Gideon Mensah cross.

Majeed Ashimeru found the back of the net in the late stages after a beautiful hit but referee Jean Jacques Ngambo Ndala disallowed the goal as Semenyo was adjudged to be an offiside.

The decision to disallow the goal sent the stadium almost quiet after the massive roar from the crowd when Ashimeru scored.

Cape Verde kept their 1-0 lead intact as the game went into recess.

The Blue Sha
rks started the second half like they did in the first with the Black Stars kept on the back foot.

But the Black Stars restored parity in the 55th minute after Alexander Djiku headed home from Jordan Ayew’s corner kick.

The Black Stars seem to have restored thei confidence after scoring the goal and nearly took the lead but Joseph Painstil couldn’t convert the opportunity.

Ghana took control of the game and Andre Ayew’s introduction seemed to have gingered the players on the field.

Ofori Richard pulled up a brilliant save to deny Jouanne Carbal from close range.

But it was a disastrous ending for the Black Stars as they couldn’t hold on and were punished by Rodrigues’ late strike.

Source: Ghana News Agency