AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS 1998 - match discriptions (impressions) QUARTER FINALS

Quarter-finals  Cameroon - DR Congo  Tunisia - Burkina Faso  Côte d'Ivoire - Egypt  Morocco - South Africa

 

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Friday Febr 20th  the first quarter-final: Cameroon - Congo DR  kickoff 16:00 GMT (17:00 MEZ, 11:00 EST)

before the match...Cameroon - DR Congo:    Cameroon as one of the five World Cup qualificants displayed a quite solid performance yet. They look like a team that improves but their game is still interrupted by some of their typical defensive errors. Attacking, Cameroon always seemed able to score with dangerous forward Alphonse Tchami who hit the net each match. But they showed they are not invincable when Guinea put high pressure on them. There has been rumours about a controversy after the coach benched goalkeeper Songo'o for the last group match. If this affects their performance we'll see.   Congo DR is a determined team and those teams can reach much if determination meets talent. They beat a paralyzed Ghana, were a little lucky against Togo and a little unlucky against Tunisia. Their best match was the third one, the Ghana match. Now it will depend on their real qualities. Teams in tournaments that play one or two matches completely at their limits cannot keep this level for all matches and often lose in quarter- or semi-finals because they can not win by their qualities alone they depend on winning by their effort. There are numerous examples in World Cup history (Russia, Denmark 86, Costa Rica 90, Saudi-Arabia 94 etc.). An African example is Mali 1994. But Congo seems to have more substance. Anyway: Favorites are Cameroon. They did look like they still can add a few percents if necessary.

1st half action:   -Cameroon with #16 Vincent Ongadzi in goal again, Congo in white, quiet beginning   -('5) nice attack by Cameroon and a could have been penalty for Cameroon when defender physical against broken through Cameroon #8 Romarin Billong. But Cameroon is not Burkina Faso...   -('8) first opportunity DRC but #9 shot is not strong enough   -('9) #7 Cameroon Tchoutang releases a better one but from a worse angle and so it is quite easily saved   -Congo starts to display determination, Cameroon individual strength   -('21) no wall against a Cameroon free kick from little more than 25m but no danger anyway   -('23) after corner header from Cameroon #4 Mimboe across the bar   -('24) Cameroon beats the offside trap but the huge opportunity is wasted by bad pass-play   -('26) good attack on the left wing by DRC causes a dangerous header by Cameroon defender #2 in direction of his own goal   -('27) some minor Confusion again in Cameroon defence after a through ball this time on Congo right wing   -is Cameroon to sure of themselves now (individual superiority) ?   -('29) Tchami provokes a foul against him and complains when the referee's whistle remains silent- yellow card   -('30) left wing attack again by Congo means trouble for Cameroon defender #4 who stops the broken through play by a foul- yellow card   -('31) the following free kick finds #9 Tondelua who heads it into the goal while the keeper is anywhere but where needed- 0:1   <-- goalkeeper on his way to nowhere, only selected players displayed    -('33) free kick Cameroon same position as earlier but this there is a wall and there the ball goes into   -('37) Tchoutang solo and the ground causes his shot is dangerous but the keeper saves. A Cameroon pressure phase follows   -Cameroon starts to lose balls in built-up:   -('44) error by Cameroon defender #4 who loses the ball gets almost punished by Congo but 2 players miss the centred ball   -('45) another Congo left wing counterplay after a won ball in midfield but the shot is wide   -('45) yellow card against Congolese #3 for foulplay   HALFTIME- 0:1

2nd half action:   -('49) dangerous Congo play using both wings results in shot wide. Congo uses the available space for good pass play attack   -('50) Tchami tries it alone but his harmless shot is deflected to a corner   -('52) Cameroon #10 Mboma replaces Tchami. Is he tired or punished for his stubborness before?   -now the match becomes exciting: ('54) two spectacular scenes in front of the Congolese goal when Congolese defenders deny Cameroon shots the way into the net (one is a chip ball by #10 Mboma that is angled down by a defender #3 foot)   -('55) another exciting scene when Congo goalkeeper has problems with the ball   -('56) Congolese counterattack blocked by defender   -('57) beatiful Cameroon right wing attack broken up by passplay missunderstanding   -('57) good Congo attack denied success by the Cameroon keeper who is out of his goal in time   -match in excitement now   -('58) left alone Congolese #9 cannot gain control over the centred ball   -('63) Cameroon #10 Mboma badly marked volleys a crossball from 16m but misses close   -('64) missunderstanding in Cameroon defence, Congos #18 can capitalise but he he scored with the help of his hand. Referee saw it right. The injured player has to be replaced   -('65) Cameroon #12 solorun is finished by a #10 Mboma shot that is saved by the left foot of the keeper. Sounds less dangerous than it was   -('67) Congolese #13 Bakasu receives red card by the referee. What he did remains a bit unclear. Congo with 10 man only now   -('69) Anyway dangerous Congolese counterplay denied in last moment by Cameroon defender #4   -('70) again (in this tournament) a wrong (conservative) offside decision denies Congolese substitute #7 Kasongo a one against the goalkeeper situation   -('71) Cameroon #7 Tchoutang, the most conspicious cameroon player with #20 Song, can only be hold by foulplay- yellow card against Congo #8   -heat (and fitness) seems to start to play its part when especially Cameroon actions becom more inaccurate. Congo is still very good in counterplay   -('81) Cameroon tries it with two more replacements- #17 and #18 come into to rescue the match   -('82) Mboma tries to surprise the keeper by chipping the ball but no success   -('84) continuing Cameroon solo attampts are stopped each time by the second, third or fourth defender   -('85) danger after a long Cameroon #3 Wome throw in   -('87) Congo #3 sees 2nd yellow card after a foul against Tchoutang and is sent off. Congo are only 9 men now but still play it well   -('89) error/thoughtlessness by Congolese defender losing the ball and Tchoutang scores. But he has had a hand on the ball as well and so instead of 1:1 it is only the yellow card for him   -('90) Congo almost puts it away on a dangerous counterplay   -('90) a last Cameroon opportunity is denied by the defender   -Congo celebrates, one player breakes down in tears. They have fought hard for something that was really of meaning to them. And they outplayed Cameroon on the field although each Cameroonian player was superior to his counterpart as an individual.   FINAL RESULT- 0:1, DR Congo reaches the semi-final, Cameroon goes home

 
 
 

 

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Saturday Febr 21st   the second quarter-final: Tunisia - Burkina Faso  kickoff 16:00 GMT (17:00 MEZ, 11:00 EST)

before the match...Tunisia - Burkina Faso:    Many were disappointed by the performance of Tunisia but it was not so much different from their playing style of the past. It rather might be the view on the Tunisian game that has changed. More on this later in the tournament reviews. Only so much: Tunisias game is not based on superiority but on a solid defensive foundation with a few offensive players seeking to gain advantage from standards and from defensive misbehaviour of the opponent. That is what they did in the matches they won. They are very strong utilising such opportunities and Burkina Faso has to play very concentrated. It is not impossible Tunisia makes the final four again.    Burkina Faso  were surprisingly strong and surprisingly organised compared to what could be seen in the world before. 'Le sorcier blanc' Troussier seems to have done a remarkable job. They do have the homefield advantage and they did have a refereeing advantage. But this might be over now after heavy criticism by media. They already beat a team from north of the sahara in first round match against Algeria. They will have to try to keep the crowd in the game and they are not without chance. Slight favorites are Tunisia.

- ('6) offside trap Burkina Faso does not work but the ball has crossed the sideline before a dangerous situation occurs   -('7) left wing solorun by Burkinabé #19 Oumar Barro, he tries from 7m halfleft but misses wide   -it is 34°Celsius and the first ten minutes have been played in the Tunisian half, Burkina Faso is dangerous on the wings, eye-catching is #19   -('13) first ball by #21 Tlemcani in direction of the Burkinabé goal   -some distance attempts by Burkina Faso #14 Boureima Zongo cause no danger   -('18) Ben Slimane displays both, his explosiveness and what appears as a mean side of his character when he first creates excitement among numerous defenders and after losing the ball stepping with momentum on the foot of a defender, another in the chain of #18 'accidents' with his opponents   -in the following some more excitement for Burkinabé defenders when twice Slimane has the ball and once the goalkeeper cannot catch the crossing he goes for   -('31) two times deflected distance shot after BFA corner misses wide   -Tunisia is more in the control of the match now. They seem to shift more people to the wing Burkina Faso tries to break through and so they suffocate the sources for Burkina Faso danger   -('37) dangerous corner Burkina FAso   -('38) an error in Burkina FAso built up causes danger when a #10 Ghodbane cross ball finds the head of #18 Ben Slimane who misses wide   -('38) a pass back to the Tunisian goalkeeper that causes an error when the keeper hesitates too long before kicking it away. Burkinabé #9 can block the ball and it rolls along the penalty area. The keeper wins the race for the lose ball   -('42) well played dangerous BFA attack when #2 accomplishes to centre the ball against 2 defenders but #9 header misses wide   -('45) beautiful Burkina Faso attack outplays the complete Tunisian defense. #2 has passed the goalkeeper already in a slightly difficult angle when a defender tries to tackle from behind. #2 falls. It is a penalty. #9 Kassoum Ouedraogo hammers it underneath the crossbar- 0:1   HALFTIME- 0:1 Burkina Faso leads it

2nd half action:   -Tunisian #8 Zoubeir Beya who is brought in at halftime conducts the game now and causes a first of various dangerous situations when passing through to #21, alone in fromt of the keeper but his shot saved   -another great #8 ball who is brought down by a defender but what looks like a clear penalty for Tunisia is denied by the referee   -Tunisia displays some prblems in making the game and looks vulnerable against counter-attacks in the following   -('66) Beya beats the offside trap with great pass play but referee rules the old way (there have been Tunisians in passive offside not involved in the game)   -more and more Tunisia outplays the Burkinabé defence but has no scorer after the injured #18 Ben Slimane had to be replaced   -('73) BF counterplay sees after a #10 pass #9 alone against goalkeeper when Tunisian defenders waiving for offside but the keeper rescues with his right foot   -('80) almost great goal by Tunisia when #8 Beya sets it up for #19 who just touches the ball on but keeper payed attention and reacts to save it   -('81) only a few ticks more than 15 minutes after he was brought in Burkinabé #10 is taken out again by his coach   -('82) Tunisians coming closer and closer but always a defenders foot in between   -('85) lose ball 4m in front of the goal after corner but Tunisia cannot capitalise   -Tunisia now too much in hectic. It has to be doubted they will get one more chance but then...   -('90) a centred ball is headed on by #9 and finds #19 Gabsi who scores- 1:1   -in injury time a reliefed tunisia releases some distance attempts wide   -The goal seem to have saved the tournament from becoming even more controversy in the point of refereeing decisions concerning the host Burkina Faso.   FINAL RESULT- 1:1, the match has to be decided in extra-time

1st half extra-time action:   -both teams attack but with less risky formations so they are no clear opportunities   -a long Beya ball on #7 Rouissi but the keeper wins the race   HALFTIME 1:1

2nd half extra-time action:   -the keeper spies out a Beya through ball again   -some minor dangerous #2 Seydou Traoré solo runs for Burkina Faso are sign for Burkina Faso becomes a bit more dangerous again but the hige opportunity happens on the opposite side:   -fine #9 dribbling and a ball to #8 Beya who tries to tunnel the keeper who somehow manages to get down and save it by 2nd effort   -after a minor danger situation over the Burkinabé left wing it is over   FINAL RESULT 1:1, the match has to be decided on penalties

penalty shoot-out:      Burkina Faso (first) Tunisia #2 S.Traoré right goal #3 Sanou left keeper close but goal #11 Nana left goal #18  left hesitates, the ball is saved #9 Ouedraogo right goal #14  right not precisesly, saved #12 I.Traoré right goal #8 Diabate right goal #16 Liade right goal #5 O.Coulibaly right goal   #7 Rouissi right goal #2 Badra left goal #13 Bouazizi left goal #14  left from crossbar down on goalline #9 Jelassi right goal #8  right weak shot saved #19 Gabsi right goal #10 Ghodbane right goal #4 Herichi left goal #2 left wide   -remark1: in penalty shoot-out it is looked for a winner after 5 penalties each. IF after 5 penalties there is now winner, it is decided on every 1 penalty each. So there is a sixth penalty. no decision yet? seventh penalty...etc. Here it took five more until it was decided. The complete horror was 1992 when the final was decided after some 12 or 13 penalties, a tragedy for the player who misses the deciding one   -remark2: the ball from #14 against the crossbar went down on the line. Whether it could have been behind the line cannot be said. The referee decided not and he is obliged only to say goal when he is a hundred percent sure not the other way round.   -remark3: #8 could put it away but he looked very much pressured by the situation   -remark3: next 8 shots see goalkeepers all sent into wrong corner but Tunisian #2, looking pressured as well misses the goal by at least half a meter   -after 10 penalties it is decided - Burkina Faso has won the penalty shoot-out 8:7 and reaches semi-finals, Tunisia has to go home

 
 

 

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Saturday Febr 21st   the third quarter-final: Côte d'Ivoire - Egypt  kickoff 20:00 GMT (21:00 MEZ, 15:00 EST

before the match...Côte d'Ivoire - Egypt:    Côte d'Ivoire is the most exciting team of the tournament. They are the magicians and almost unstoppable on attack. In defending they are far less succesful whether this is by the quality of the players, the organisation, or caused by the forward playing attitude. As long as they score more goals than they concede there will be no complaints. Very seldom such teams win tournaments. Yet they only played teams from Southern Africa and those did not prove themselves as strong this time.   Both teams match perfect: Egypts defense only conceded 1 goal yet and they are very good in profiting from defensive holes. But under severe pressure they should have troubles themselves. It could become a quite exciting match. Côte d'ivoire looks stronger than Zambia and will not be outscored this easily.   Note that Burkina Faso heat plays its part. In their match against South Africa Côte d'Ivoire looked good, kept the pressure up until the last minute. Egypt was passive against Morocco, whether it was heat or they decided only to defend cannot be said. Apart from three Europeans Egyptian players play at Egypt, Ivorians 11:11 at Europe and West Africa. Although it should not affect the match too much because the match is played when the sun has disappeared, Côte d'Ivoire could have a little edge here and are slight favorites.

1st half action:   -Côte d'Ivoire supplied with a different outfit each game by Nappa, while the goalkeepers cloths are by Uhlsport   -('11) #8 Didier Angan Côte d'Ivoire sees the yellow card after a foul   -Egypts defence plays very solid and concentrated against first magicians attempts, Ivorian defence concentrated, too.   -('14) CIV #22 Saliou Lassissi volleys it wide after a corner   -('22) first excitment in Ivorian defence when goalkeeper goes for a cross ball a defender clears 15m in front of the goal. Sometimes it looks diefferent to European view because African goalkeepers tend to leave their goal more often   -('29) nice Egyptian attack involving #14 Hazem Emam and #9 Hossam Hassan but #19 Sami El Shishini is targeting to high   -('31) another foul by CIV defender #8 Angan. CIV has some problems now with him in danger, another defender bruised and the keeper grasping for air after an air combat with Ramzy   -('32) yellow card against #21 Donald Sie CIV   -the referee obviously is no friend of physical game, for some minutes whisteling every 20 seconds a free kick against Côte d'Ivoire. He seems to prefer grabbing the shirt as can be seen against Joel Tiehi intending to go for a through ball   -('36) Ramzy, the otherwise very strong Egyptian defender, misses a crossball and Bakayoko targets direcly but wide from a difficult angle   -when Ivorians attack they are too far outnumbered by defenders, at least they profit from the referees accuracy for some minutes   -('44)missunderstanding in Ivorian defence without consequences   -Ivorian start arguing over decisions for some moments against them, you see, not too much happened especially because of a very concentrated Egyptian defence while yellow cards could make defending more difficult in second half for CIV   HALFTIME- 0:0

2nd half action:   -Ivorian bench reacted: #5 in for #8   -the following match is characterised by attacking attempts in which defenders have the last word. Both teams play with careful defensive formations sufforcating all attack attempts   -('58) Tiehi shot across the bar   -('64) Nagano gold slalom run by #22 Lassissi is stopped by last pole   -('70) 'unexpected' (if this is possible #5 Egyptian freekick surprises the keeper and hits the crossbar   -('73) Outtara in for Tiehi, both with bycicle attempts, Lassissi with yellow card, later replaced by #11   -('82) Bakayoko header from goo position direct on the keepers body   -('90) Egyptian tempo approaches zero, fast Ivorian attacks outnumbered, they are too much drawn back   FINAL RESULT- 0:0 EXTRA TIME wil decide

1st half extra-time action:   -('92)free kick from 25 results in Ouattara shot after a cross ball, but wide   -('95)yellow for CIV #5   -good bye goal fever, hello 1992, whoever loses this match that never was a game, will curse. IF there is a goal it will be out of the blue   HALFTIME- 0:0

2nd half extra-time action:   -nice solo by Egyptian #11, no way comes he close to the goal   -suddenly ('117) foul ruled Ramzy defending against Outtara, free kick 18m but the quick shot by Sie is deflected   -('120) Egypt brings in #20 for penalty, it's over   FINAL RESULT 0:0 penalty shoot-out will decide

penalty shoot-out:      Côte d'Ivoire (first) Egypt #17 Domoraud left keeper right, goal #14 Guel left keeper right, goal #2 left keeper left, saves #20 Bakayoko left keeper right, goal #18 Ouattara right keeper left, goal   #4 Ramzy left keeper right, goal #8 Radwan left keeper tends right, goal #5 Kamouna right goal #20 Mostafa right keeper left, goal #14 Hazem Emam left keeper left, goal   all directions from the scorers point of view   -remark1: shot by Egyptian #8 very sharp, Ivorian #2 had problems before with his shoes or changed them   -it has been a cruel match, that did not break open because there was no party that had to come from behind and risk some more. Especially the Egyptian concrete was very hard to overcome   -Egypt wins 5:4 on penalties, plays Burkina Faso in semi-finals, Côte d'Ivoire are out

 

 

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Sunday 22nd   the fourth quarter-final: Morocco - South Africa  kickoff 16:00 GMT (17:00 MEZ, 11:00 EST)

before the match...Morocco-South Africa:    Morocco claims to have not built up for this Nations Cup but plans for France later this year. But with their controlled football they displayed strength. Yet we did not see them struggle to come from behind and we did not see them score too easily.    South Africa seems to have rallied and become a serious competitor for the title. But they also did not have to come from behind yet and show their fitness. This match is an interesting meter how far both teams are, especially South Africas condition, that still is in doubt, will be tested.

1st half action:   -the referee starts the match with yellow cards on each side in the first 5 minutes vs. #18 (SAF) and #4 Rossi (Morocco). What looks like a setup for a match guaranteeing some red cards (although the fouls had not been too hard) proves in the following as a measure to avoid a foul-ridden match like the Egypt-Côte d'Ivoire encounter yesterday   -('5)McCarthy wins the first time on right wing against defender #6   -Morocco displays abilities to pass the ball and spread the game ove the entire field   -('21) South Africa almost benefits from a pressure minute when a Morocco defender lifts off the offside   -('22) South Africa breaks through on right wing, player targets directly from difficult angle. The keeper can save, the lose ball is kept in the game and headed back by #12 and #17 McCarthy scores- 0:1   -second Morocco freekick into the sky   -('29) fastbreak: long ball to McCarthy but his shot from 17m is not sharp enough and is saved by the keeper   -('30) South Africa has to replace #20 by #11   -('36) a corner fpor Morocco is headed from 12m by #18 in direction to the goal. four meters in front of the goal is #8 Chiba who heads it on into the net. Whether he relly touched it remains unclear but he definitively irritates the keeper and a defender on the line- 1:1   -Morocco tries to use momentum to pressure, South Africa counterplays with long balls   -harmless South African free kick after McCarthy dribbling was stopped   HALFTIME- 1:1

2nd half action:   -('46) blitz attack by McCarthy (ball wide)   -minor opportunities on both sides   -('53) error in South African defence after corner not punished   -('61) dangerous free kick situation from SAF right wing but Morocco defence concentrated   -('63) Morocco crossball into the penalty area causes confusion, but Morocco cannot profit   -('66) good opportunity for Morocco #9 Fertout after #18 Chippo set it up fine on the right corner but his header goes wide   -Morocco now pressures unanswered but still only with medium opportunities, South Africa seems a bit out of breath and Morocco conquers balls in South African half. Anyway...   -('74) #3 Hyathi receives the ball on South African left wing, makes a move which makes defender #21 fall down and releases a canonball from the left corner of the penalty area into the net- suddenly it is 1:2   -('75) Morocco tries to answer immediately but South Africans survive turmoil in own penalty box   -will the individual effort beat the team effort this time?   -('79) Morocco free kick, header by #5 but to the body of the goalkeeper   -South Africa has gained momentum, especially physically while Morocco falls to hectic no. Their deliberate game is interrupted by errors now   -('87) after a through ball #18 Chippo fires from bad position instead of passing   -('88) long distance attempt by Morocco #21 harmless for the keeper   -long balls into the South African penalty area do no harm   -in injury time: red card against South African #2 Rabutla for a tackle from behind   -danger after a headed-on corner by Morocco   -free kick from a good position for a centred ball is wasted by a bad executed stubborn attempt of #13 Bahja   -South Africa has won, not convinced, Morocco has disappointed in a pressure situation, the match was carefully played until the third goal   FINAL RESULT: 1:2, South Africa advances, Morocco heads home

review preview: goal fever turns to goal fear: goal average sunk from 3,0 in first round matches to 1,5 in quarter finals  and: all group winners out of the race after quarter finals-what can this mean?  and: 3 of 4 world cup qualificants do not reach final four...

 
 

 

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Cameroon	DR Congo	0-1
Tunisia	Burkina Faso	1-1 a.e.t.	7:8 on pen.
Côte d'Ivoire	Egypt	0-0 a.e.t.	4:5 on pen.
Morocco	South Africa	1-2