Cup of Nations off to a flying start
The clouds hang thick in the skies over Libreville, the humidity causing sweat to hit the brow approximately 0.5 seconds after stepping outside.
There has been plenty of metaphorical sweating happening in Gabon too in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the big guns made to perspire by the underdogs.
On Saturday, hosts Gabon might have expected a comfortable ride when they took on Guinea-Bissau in the tournament opener. It looked like a mismatch, with a side boasting Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina up against a team playing in its first Cup of Nations, with many players plucked from the lower leagues of Portuguese football.
Instead, it was an occasion thick with tension, and it took the stadium announcer’s yelling to finally perk up both the crowd and the Gabon team inside the Stade de L’Amite.
Just after he started screaming early in the second half, Aubameyang tapped in. But there was a punch to the gut for Gabon in stoppage time, Juary Soares’ header leaving the hosts in serious Group A danger.
“Our football is getting better, yeah, we just trust the country and do our best. Not many people know where Guinea-Bissau is and I think tonight some people will try to find where Guinea-Bissau is,” said substitute Frederic Mendy after the game.
It is safe to assume that most people know where Zimbabwe is, but they were also given little chance against Algeria on Sunday afternoon. Riyad Mahrez and company were expected to inflict serious damage on the Warriors, but while the Caf African Footballer-of-theYear scored twice, so did Zimbabwe, in a gripping draw.
The performance was a decent advert for the Premier Soccer League, with Khama Billiat superb, Golden Arrows forward Kudakwashe Mahachi netting the first goal and former Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi the second from the spot.
Zimbabwe’s success is also an indictment of Bafana Bafana, who have so many more resources, but were not able to qualify for Gabon. On another day, in a game of fine margins, Zimbabwe would surely have beaten Algeria.
Billiat hit the post and the ball came out just before Mahrez hit the post and the ball went in for Algeria’s opener. And shortly before Mahrez made it 2-2, Bidvest Wits striker Cuthbert Malajila had a fantastic chance to put Zimbabwe 3-1 up.
Still, they already have a point more than Bafana managed against Algeria in 2015, and must feel they have nothing to fear now against both Senegal or Tunisia either.
This has been a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations so far, with the excitement for the game in this country clear for all to see. At the restaurant we had dinner at on Sunday night, staff huddled around the television to watch the Senegal-Tunisia game.
On the way home, another group were huddled in the street around a TV set watching Sevilla-Real Madrid.
This tournament, as with any other, however, does need the hosts to do well if it is to truly take off. Gabon’s game against Burkina Faso tomorrow has become ever more crucial, thanks to the minnows.
Jonty Mark is in Gabon courtesy of SuperSport.