By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Egypt Plays Goalless Draw with Angola But Tops Group B.
BAFANA BAFANA of South Africa on Monday at Marrakesh, Morocco emerged from a lethargic phobia of a loss to perennial regional rivals,
The Warriors of Zimbabwe to earn a ticket to play in the Knockout rounds as the weapons of the Warriors could not save them from a 2-3 goals defeat in a last group D encounter.
South African fans had been tensed fearing what would happen if Zimbabwe makes good a threat to cut down their darling team but Orlando Pirates Tshepand Moremi in the 7th minute raised hopes when he collected a pass from Lyle Foster to score the curtain raiser making the South African section of the stands to go gaga.
Nail biting began in the 19th minute when Tawaranda Maswanhise got an assist from Fabisch to score the equalizer only for Foster who gave the assist for South African first goal to bank on a defensive error to put the Mandela boys in the lead at the 50th minute.
Then there was pressure from the Zimbabweans that forced a disoriented defender Aubrey Modiba of Mamelodi Sundowns to score an OWN GOAL in the 73rd minute making it 2-2 only for a Zimbabwean defender to handle the ball in the box in that kind of a match and time which Algerian Ref in consultation with VAR gave to South Africa and Oswin Appollis was able to beat at the 82nd minute Goalkeeper Washington Arubi in goal for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe only created paper tension called SHAKARA in Lagos Nigeria as South Africa outclassed the Warriors in the stats making 14-9 shots at goal of which 9-3 were on target; South Africa controlled the game with 66-44% ball possessions with a fluid midfield getting 3-3 corner kicks but both teams were rough as the Ref made 11-10 foul calls against Zimbabwe. A South African Sports Commentator had in the morning of Monday argued that African football is highly physical and that should not be the focus in AFCON.
There were no handshakes after the match but records show the two teams at least met for six times and South Africa beat their regional rival in the Council of South African Football Association (COSAFA) three times with three draws. Zambia has the COSAFA highest title of seven while Angola that played in the same AFCON 25 group B with them are current champions with five titles.
The Stable Antelopes of Angola surprisingly forced already qualified Pharaohs of Egypt to a barren draw in Agadir though the matches were played simultaneously.
Egypt that already qualified for the Knockout stages with Nigeria and Algeria topped group B with 7 points scoring 3 goals and conceding a lone goal; South Africa has joined the qualifiers placing second in this group with 6 points scoring five goals and conceding 4. Zimbabwe and Angola are by football rules to leave Morocco after 48 hours of last game as Angola scored two points scored two goals and conceded three to place third while Zimbabwe only got a point scoring twice conceding thrice to place fourth.
Hosts Morocco will pray hard to beat desperate Zambia as Group A closes at 8.00pm also tomorrow Monday same time ousted Comoros will play for prestige against Eagles of Mali in same group.
Tomorrow Tuesday Nigeria will trade tackles with the Ugandan Cranes and The Taifa Stars have a survival match against Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in group C at 5.00pm.
Group D will be on parade at 8pm when Cheetahs of Benin plays a difficult match against Teranga Lions of Senegal and ousted Botswana will play a formality match against DR Congo.
Group stages finish on New Year’s Eve when on Wednesday Equatorial Guinea plays already qualified Algeria and Sudan tries the Stallions of Burkina Faso all at 5.00pm
Then at 8pm when Christians will be moving to various worship Centers all over the world for the Cross Over service, Gabon will play Ivory Coast and Mozambique will face Cameroon.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMC #FAF #ZIFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
