2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers: Weekend Shocks and Surprises
The opening round of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, played over the weekend, delivered some notable upsets and standout performances as teams jostled for position ahead of the next fixtures on Wednesday.
Bright Spots: Congo, Vilakazi, Gourcuff’s Algeria
The biggest shock came in Calabar on Saturday, where Congo stunned Nigeria with a 3-2 victory. The match also marked the international debut of Thievy Bifouma, the young Espanyol forward who committed to the Red Devils under coach Claude Leroy. Bifouma’s performance hinted at a promising future for Congo’s attack.
South Africa’s new coach Ephraim Mashaba witnessed a promising start with a 3-0 win in Sudan, thanks in large part to Sibusiso Vilakazi. The Maritzburg striker impressed with his dynamic play, potentially filling the void left by former Bafana Bafana stars Shaun Bartlett and Benni McCarthy.
Christian Gourcuff’s first outing as Algeria coach was a success as the Desert Foxes won 2-1 away to Ethiopia. Despite a difficult pitch, Algeria’s performance was fluid and encouraging, reminiscent of their strong showings at the World Cup.
Senegal also made a statement, winning 2-0 against Egypt at the Léopold Sédar Senghor stadium on their return after a year-long absence. Burkina Faso, Africa’s runners-up in the previous edition, continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over Lesotho.
Disappointments: Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana
Nigeria’s preparations under Stephen Keshi appear to be under strain amid domestic football turmoil. The Super Eagles’ unexpected home defeat to Congo casts doubt over their qualification hopes. FIFA has urged the Nigerian Football Federation to resolve its internal issues promptly.
Egypt’s campaign has begun in troubling fashion under new coach Shawky Gharib. The Pharaohs, who have won a record seven AFCON titles, face an uphill battle to qualify after a difficult start. Failure to qualify again after missing the 2012 and 2013 tournaments would be a significant blow.
Ghana’s much-anticipated home match against Uganda ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw, leaving fans and players frustrated. Captain Asamoah Gyan and his teammates will need to bounce back quickly, especially with a critical fixture against Togo looming on Wednesday.
As the qualifiers continue, teams will be looking to build on their successes or recover from setbacks in the tightly contested race for Africa’s premier football tournament.
