http://www.tvgolo.com/en/match-highlights-1410034866---49 Niger - Cape Verde Great result for Uganda, now they have to build on this point, Guinea first. Shame that BeIn won't show that match live, as well as Cape Verde - Zambia, only big guns will be shown Also, as a fan of LeRoy always happy when he makes good results
Cabo Verde has been on a serious rise. If it wasn't for an ineligible player ruling, they would have been in the play off against Cameroon for a WC place. They went into Tunisie and got their result, they also had eliminated Cameroon from AFCONQ in a playoff format beforehand too.
Small check up on FIFA points situation: If Algeria (vs Mali) and Cote d'Ivoire (vs resurgent Cameroon) win their next game they will torpedo into the FIFA top 20 (with Cote d'Ivoire back in first and possibly in the top 15). Meanwhile if Senegal win vs Botswana they up to 25 places and become no 3 in Africa. Tunisia could overtake them and enter the top 30.
I didn't watch the game but Mali beat Malawi 2-0. Goals by Bakary Sako 52' and Cheick Diabaté 92'. Should be interesting for Wednesday's game.
I have to say, every time I'm alerted to an update in this thread my first thought is "Canada is playing a qualifier"?
Re Ghana: Arguably close to the best side Ghana can currently field. But something is just not right. Muntari is a big loss as it turns out, as Asamoah is not a midfield general. He can be an excellent wingman but isn't a leader. Acquah could fill in those shoes. Andre Ayew was superb (on a side note). Schlupp unfortunately was dissapointing. Hopefully Baba Rahman gets a chance, else its back to the Asamoah LB solution... As to Nigeria: I believe that after winning the African Cup of Nations Keshi is just too full of himself. Endlessly drafting in no-names and keeping the squad well below its potential level... thats just criminal. The World Cup performance managed to hide how stubborn he is with his selection, but really... start calling up the best players and playing the optimal squad. No more Uche Nwofor's!!! Thankfully Nwofor has been dropped and the remainig striker options look good, so should be an improvement. Still have no idea what Oduamadi is doing in the first team... The midfield needs either Joel Obi or Nosa Igiebor. Mikel-Azeez-Onazi is just too uncreative as a whole, even if individually these as good players.
Herve Renard cuts the following players from the roster: Constant Djakpa, Brou Benjamin Angoua, Ousmane Ouattara and Eric Tié Bi (three defenders and a midfielder)
Some big clashes coming up tomorrow... South Africa - Nigeria Algeria - Mali Cameroon - Ivory Coast Its going to be interesting to see how Nigeria reacts after getting stunned by Congo last week. The other two matches aren't as interesting as they would be if only one team would qualify, but still definitely watchable!
GROUP A: Congo - Sudan South Africa - Nigeria Congo's win and South Africa's dominant display makes this a very intriguing group. Sudan could be out of the running after Wednesday, while Congo could take a strong hold of this group. If Nigeria continue this poor form and the terrible selection policy they could be in for a shock. GROUP B: Malawi - Ethiopia Algeria - Mali Malawi and Ethiopia may want to spoil the party, but I really feel this one is between Algeria and Mali. Whoever wins today is as good as through, while the other team may have a bit of a rocky run, but should also make it. Expect Algeria to come out on top. GROUP C: Angola - Burkina Faso Lesotho - Gabon Angola continue their slump, so Gabon and Burkina Faso hot favorites to take the group. Doubt Lesotho can make any further inroads. GROUP D: Sierra Leone - DRCongo Cameroon - Cote d'Ivoire DRCongo again dissapoints. Wonder how the squad renewals in both Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire will work out. Still expect Cote d'Ivoire to take it, but Cameroon really looked good against DRCongo, more so than Cote d'Ivoire against Sierra Leone. GROUP E: Togo - Ghana Uganda - Guinea This is turning out to be a tough group, especially with Guinea in form, Togo with Adebayor and Uganda playing well under Sredojevic (ex-Yugosla coaches rule!!!). GROUP F: Mozambique - Niger Cape Verde - Zambia This group is wide open for me. Still expect everything to happen, but really looks like Cape Verde will win this group. GROUP G: Botswana - Senegal Egypt - Tunisia Egypt need a win to get back on track. Senegal in the meantime is expected to show that they will be a force to be reckoned with come the African Cup of Nations. With all due respect to Botswana, this should be no contest.
N'jie scores for Cameroon with a great solo run!!! (almost with a second but called off for offside) A few line-ups: NIGERIA (three changes): Austin Ejide – Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona – Ogeny Onazi, Mikel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Gbolahan Salami, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike CAMEROON (no changes): Ondoa-Oyongo Bitolo, Nkoulou, Mbia, Guihota-Enoh, Mandjeck-Choupo-Moting, N’Jie, Moukandjo-Aboubakar GHANA (five changes) Stephen Adams, Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, Jonathan Mensah, Awal Mohammed, Agyemang Badu, Christian Atsu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew TOGO: Agassa – Donou, Ouro-Akoriko, Bossou, Mamah – Romao, Amewou, Flo Ayité, Wome – Jo Ayité, Adebayor COTE D:'IVOIRE (EDIT: sorry that was some false line-up): Barry – Bamba – Aurier – Kone Lamine – Boka – Yaya Toure – Tiote – Akpa Akpro – Gradel - Gervais Yao – Wilfried Bony --- Yaya Toure equalizes to make it 1:1. End to end stuff. Aboubakar puts Cameroon back in front. Some great stuff in this game!
What a great trio has Tunisia behind the striker Tunisia XI v Egypt: Aymen Mathlouthi, Ali Maaloul, Syam Ben Youssef, Bilel Mohsni, Rami Bédoui, Houcine Regued, Ferjani Sassi, Wahbi Khazri, Yassine Chikhaoui, Youssef Msakni, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.
Ethiopia lost to Malawi (3-2), arguably the weakest side of the group, their hopes of qualifying to the CAN are seriously compromised.