Bench-warmers game-changers
THE winners of the 31st Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be the team with the strongest bench, judging by the number of players who keep falling by the wayside through injuries.
Burkina Faso qualified for the quarter-finals without talisman Jonathan Pitroipa and Jonathan Zongo, who have been ruled out of the tournament.
Ghana’s Baba Abdul-Rahman is watching the remainder of the Afcon in Germany, where he is being treated by his club Schalke after tearing his ACL.
Egypt have had injuries to goalkeeper Ahmed ElShenawy and Sherif Ekramy, while Gabon finished the group stage without Mario Lemina and Johann Obiang.
All these players didn’t get injured because of reckless tackles. It was because of the sand at the four pitches used in Gabon.
“The pitch isn’t helping,” said Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
“There is too much sand. That means you must use a lot of energy when you run.”
The Footballer of the Year – Based in Africa, sat out the Cranes’ clash with Mali in their last match in Oyem.
Onyango had complained about a tight muscle after the 1-0 loss to Egypt. Uganda decided not to risk him, especially having put the goalkeeper in cotton wool prior to the tournament because of a groin injury that troubled him in a friendly against Ivory Coast.
The Burkinabe have reacted well to their depth being tested. Prejuce Nakoulma replaced Pitroipa and shined. Nakoulma scored and produced an assist. He will be looking to continue that form tonight at Stade de l’Amitie in the Stallions’ clash with Tunisia in the quarter-finals at 6pm. Later Senegal take on Cameroon at Stade de Franceville.
Even though the pitches have been an issue, and they’re likely to continue to do so because of the heavy downpours that come at this time of the year, it hasn’t affected the quality of the football. The Lions of Teranga have looked like they can finally be African champions.
Senegal boast not only a strong attack led by Sadio Mane and Keita Balde, they are also supported by a solid defence. That defence passed the test against a Tunisian side that tried to break them down, camping in their half for most of the second half. It was only against Algeria, once qualification was guaranteed and coach Aliou Cisse decided to rest some players, that the Lions of Teranga’s defence was beaten.
In the Indomitable Lions they face a close-knit team that has grown at this tournament. The absence of eight players who snubbed Cameroon has motivated this bunch to end the nation’s 15-year wait to be African champions. Cameroon last lifted this trophy in Mali in 2002, against a Senegal captained by Cisse. Now as coach, the 40-year-old is looking to do what his generation couldn’t achieve.
Cisse is joined by Florent Ibenge of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the other African coach in the last eight. Ibenge’s Leopards have been one of the best teams in the group stage. Junior Kabananga scored in every match during the group stage. He powered the Leopards to the knockout stage with his physique that enables DRC to have a different dimension to their attack should they struggle to keep the ball. Ghana used that strategy to overcome the Stade de Port-Gentil’s pitch.
The Black Stars can’t afford to lose Asamoah Gyan who arrived here not 100 percent fit. His 31-year-old body has taken a beating from running on the hard surfaces. He went to Libreville for scans to see if he’ll be available for tomorrow’s match.
The experience of Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary, 44, will come in handy against Morocco tomorrow.