Goals dry up as African favorites struggle again

OYEM, Gabon (Reuters) – The African Nations Cup produced a meager total of one goal in two matches on Monday as the pre-tournament favorites continued to struggle with holder Ivory Coast held by outsider Togo.

The Elephants had to settle for a 0-0 draw in the opening match of a double bill played in stifling conditions.

In the second game, Morocco coach Herve Renard, the Frenchman who led the Ivorians to the title in 2015, saw his side suffer a 1-0 defeat against Democratic Republic of Congo, which joined Senegal as the only team to have won a game.

Four of the first six matches at the tournament have been draws with Cameroon having been held by Burkina Faso, host Gabon by debutant Guinea Bissau and Algeria by Zimbabwe.

Togo, captained by club-less 32-year-old Emmanuel Adebayor, looked sharper in attack against the Ivorians.

But the game delivered just a handful of half chances, the best falling to the Ivorians two minutes from time as substitute Max Gradel’s cross was headed narrowly wide by Serge Aurier.

Meanwhile, Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, just past his 44th birthday, became the oldest player to feature in the tournament in a match against Mali in Group D on Tuesday, while Uganda, which made its last appearance at the finals in 1978, met Ghana in Tuesday’s other game.