Before:
The déjà vu
classic: Two years ago it had been the same opening match for the two and
the two points the Ivorians had lost in the draw against Togo, eventually
became very expensive as the Elephants remained one goal shy of qualification
for the quarter finals.
The DR Congo provided another
warning yesterday in keeping the match with African champions Cameroon
close, although eventually losing.
The Ivorians have arrived
with a mixed suqad of experience, quality, and youth. Not less than 8 players
of the ASEC Abidjan academy and that famous African club Super Cup final
in 1999 (see read
more) are included in the 22 names.
Togo meanwhile are no pushovers,
though they are given little chances to advance. But they are always good
enough to spoil a neighbours campaign as they did 1998 with Ghana and 2000
with the Ivorians. Some key players are missing but the West Africans should
have enough talents to annoy their opponents with unexpected resilience.
Provided that they come up with sufficient organisation and avoid errors.
Côte d'Ivoire > read
more
Togo > read
more
analysis of the age structure
of the teams > click
here
The match:
After an early scare through
the Togolese, the Ivorians grew more and more dangerous throughout the
first half by their explosive forward trio Bakayoko, Dindane and Abdelkader
Keita: But great saves by Togolese keeper Kossi Agassa frustrated the Elephants
who did not ceate as many chances in the second half. In the final minute
there were big occasions on either side and eventually Côte d'Ivoire
had to settle for a draw that leaves the Togolese in a slightly better
position: they will play Cameroon last and the African champions might
already be qualified or only needing a draw.
match data as published
by CAF Online:
Referee: Chukwudi Chukwujekwu
(NGR)
Ass. Referees: Justice
Yeboah (GHA), Dramane Dante (MLI)
Attendance: 15,000
Teams:
Togo : 16-Kossi Agassa;
12-Eric Akoto, 4-Dosseh Yaouvi Abalo, 14-Koffi Olympio, 21-Zanzan Atte-Odeyi;
8-Lantame Ouadja, 11-Michel Dogbe (7-Thomas Dossevi, 80), 10-Adekambi Olufade,
13-Komlan Assignon (2-Maman Gafarou, 82), 3-Yao Senaya; 17-Abdelkader Coubadja
(20-Abiodan Oyawule, 57)
Ivory Coast : 1-Losseni
Konate; 8-Brahima Kone, 2-Habib Toure, 6-Blaise Koffi Kouassi, 3-Mamadou
Coulibaly; 4-Lassina Diabete, 7-Tchiressoua Guel, 13-Aliou Siby Badara
(19-Didier Sokora, 46), 12-Abdelkader Keita; 10-Ibrahima Bakayoko (9-Kandia
Traore, 66), 14-Arouna Dindane (15-Bonaventure Kalou, 68)
Cautions:
I. Coast: 2- Toure (73),
3- M. Coulibaly (84)
Togo: 13- Assignon (19),
4- Abalo Yaouvi |
