SB Nation 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
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In Sunday's action, Mali and Ghana faced tough tests against Zambia and Tunisia, but both sides just about scraped through the to semifinals.
The two teams to advance out of a loaded Group D in the Africa Cup of Nations are both in action on Sunday in the quarterfinals, and both will be favored to advance. However, unlike the two games on Saturday, these two games do not have very clear-cut favorites. Ghana and Mali will be tested much more than Cote D'Ivoire and Zambia were.
Ghana are up against Tunisia, who have had an up and down tournament thus far. The Eagles of Carthage lost to Gabon and were tested by Niger more than they should have been, but they were impressive in their win against Morocco. This is their first game of the tournament against a top team in good form, so it's difficult to predict exactly how much trouble they'll give to the Black Stars.
Mali will be up against a hostile crowd when they take on tournament co-hosts Gabon. Though many expected Gabon to progress to the quarterfinals, few expected them to do it in such dominant fashion. They've been the second best team in the tournament thus far, behind just Cote D'Ivoire in goal differential, and they have the talent to pull off what would only be a minor upset.
Gabon vs. Mali - 11:00 a.m. ET
Ghana vs. Tunisia - 2:00 p.m. ET
2012 Africa Cup Of Nations Quarterfinals: Mali, Ghana Advance After Tough Matches
Ghana and Mali are both through to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, although neither team went on the procession that the Ivory Coast or Zambia managed in the previous day's quarterfinals. Mali were up first against co-host Gabon, and they probably didn't deserve to make it through after the excellent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set up Eric Mouloungui for the opener a little way into the second half, but Cheick Diabate levelled five minutes from time and despite Mali having a man sent off Gabon simply couldn't take the advantage in extra time. The cohosts would eventually lose thanks to Aubameyang - who's been one of the standout players in the tournament - missing his penalty, allowing Barcelona's Seydou Keita to win it. Mali's reward is a showdown with the Ivory Coast in the semifinals.
Ghana then played Tunisia, and although the Black Stars got off to a flying start when John Mensah nodded home a corner nine minutes into the match, Tunisia would reply before halftime with a header of their own when Saber Khelifa got on the end of Zouheir Dhaouadi's cross. It was hardly a footballing masterclass from either side - the players could probably be described as 'enthusiastically incompetent', and it made complete sense that the match would be decided by a complete howler in extra time, when Tunisia keeper Aymen Mathlouthi turned a cross that was going for a goal kick into an open goal for Andre Ayew to slot home. Thanks to a late red card to Aymen Abdennour, who threw an elbow into Ayew's face shortly thereafter, the Black Stars were able to see out the rest of the match without too much of a problem. They'll face the Zambia in the next round.
Feb 05 5:03p by Graham MacAree - 0 comments