6 Winners and 6 Losers From Matchday 1 of the AFCON
The first round of Africa Cup of Nations matches provided all the thrills and frills we expected. AFKSports recaps all the action after the first matchday with a slideshow naming our biggest Winners and Losers from the first eight matches.
Winners
Rais M’Bolhi – Algeria
There’s only one head of state in Algeria, he’s half Congolese, and his name is Rais M’Bolhi. M’bolhi, whose first name ‘Rais’ means President, well and truly has attained the backing of an entire populace. After a string of impossible saves at the World Cup, the Philadelphia Union goalkeeper, has confirmed the hype, single-handedly keeping Algeria in the game against South Africa.
Winners
Mame Biram Diouf – Senegal
With a goal and an assist Mame Biram Diouf justified Alain Giresse’s decision to start the Stoke City striker despite the pool of attacking quality in the Teranga Lions’ ranks. Diouf, who started the vast majority of qualifiers, continued his good run of form, torching the Ghanaian defence time and time again with audacious attempts on goal. Giresse will surely start Diouf once more against South Africa later this week.
Winners
Issa Hayatou – Confederation of African Football
Many scoffed when the Confederation of African Football assigned Equatorial Guinea rights to host the Africa Cup of Nations. But the tournament has unfolded quite smoothly. The opening ceremony was immaculate and the stadiums in Ebebiyin and Mongomo are not state-of-the-art, but they held their own in the face of last minute preparations.
Winners
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon
With his goal against Burkina Faso, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now scored 6 goals in his 7 matches with the Panthers of Gabon. The Dortmund winger is already one of the biggest stars in Africa, and by performing in international tournaments, Aubameyang is only crystallizing his reputation as a truly elite player.
Winners
Ibrahima Traore – Guinea
Against the Ivory Coast, Ibrahima Traore was the most active Guinean. When he found spaces, the Borussia Monchengladbach man looked extremely dangerous. His cross created Yattara’s goal, and he was unlucky with another effort that hit the crossbar.
Winners
Mohamed Ali Moncer – Tunisia
Netting a crucial equalizer in your first match as a starter for your country isn’t a bad way to make a name back home. But that’s exactly what Mohamed Ali Moncer did when putting his foot through Ali Maaloul’s inviting cross. Moncer was at the heart of everything Tunisia did well in attack, and has surely earned a starting role in Tunisia’s next match against Zambia.
Losers
Avram Grant – Ghana
The Israeli manager was handed quite the baptism of fire, playing Senegal in his first official match. But Grant knew he was hopping into a boiling pot when he signed up for the job, and the gamble of playing a 3-5-2 simply did not pay off. His late substitutions were also conservative in a match that was locked in a stalemate. His intention to settle backfired, as Senegal stole a late winner in injury time.
Losers
Gervinho – Cote D’Ivoire
On Tuesday evening, Gervinho looked like one of a few Ivorians capable of grabbing the match by the scruff of its neck. He hit the crossbar in the first half, and embarked on several of his trademark runs. But the Roma winger quickly went from hero to zero when earning himself a straight red card after punching Naby Keita in the face. Not only did his exclusion handicap Les Elephants against Guinea, but Herve Renard now loses one of his best players for, at least, another match due to suspension.
Losers
Jonathan Pitroipa – Burkina Faso
Though he was prolific as a lone striker during qualifiers, Jonathan Pitroipa struggled in front of the net against Gabon on Sunday night. The former Hamburg man found sizeable gaps to operate in, but seemed to have left his finishing boots in Ouagadougou as he struck most of his shots right at Gabonese goalkeeper Didier Evono.
Losers
Serge Aurier – Cote D’Ivoire
Serge Aurier is indisputably one of the continent’s hottest prospects, but the fullback, who plies his trade in Paris, was responsible for a humiliating gaffe against Guinea. The 22 year-old headed Ibrahima Traore’s cross right into the path of a poised Mohamed Yattara who made no mistake from six yards out. The mistake set Cote D’Ivoire back, and Aurier was visibly relieved when Les Elephants equalized later in the match, nullifying his mistake.
Losers
Darren Keet – South Africa
Including Darren Keet as a loser is slightly harsh on the South African goalkeeper, who put in a composed performance for the better part of Bafana Bafana’s match against Algeria. But when Islam Slimani latched onto an Ishak Belfodil pass late in the match, he directed a tame shot at Keet, who let the ball slip between in his arms and into the net. It was a mistake that drove the final nail in the coffin for Shakes Mashaba’s men.
Losers
Yaya Toure – Cote D’Ivoire
Africa’s gentle giant, who won his fourth consecutive Glo-CAF player of the year award earlier this month, simply can’t seem to imprint his influence on most matches in Africa. Against Guinea, gameplay bypassed him once more, though his set-piece were a constant threat.