Favourite Afcon magic moments ... thus far
MBONGISENI BUTHELEZI Favourite Match: Congo v Gabon Action-packed from beginning to end, both sides went at each other hammer and tongs and Congo were fantastic in standing their ground to deny Gabon the equaliser. Favourite Goal: Given Singuluma catches DRC off guard Zambia stunned the DRC with a well-taken goal early in the match and Chipololopolo looked set for victory only to allow the opposition back into the match. Favourite Save: Gabon’s Didier Ovono thwarts the Burkinabe Ovono didn’t get much credit for Gabon’s 2-0 win over Burkina Faso, but he was influential and the save he pulled off to deny Jonathan Pitroipa was top-drawer stuff. Favourite Celebration: Bafana against Algeria South Africans always celebrate their goals in style and they were at it again when Thuso Phala put them ahead against the Desert Foxes. Pity there was no dancing at the end of the match as they lost 3-1. Favourite Magic Moment: Congo beat Gabon 1-0 Nothing is as exciting in football as the sight of underdogs punching above their weight and Congo did just that when captain Prince Oniangue scored the match’s only goal. Claude Le Roy’s tactical genius shone through in this match. SEANOKENG MOLOSANKWE Favourite Match: Algeria v South Africa It was pleasing to see Bafana play as well as they did, especially in the first half. They were unlucky to lose the way they did, though. Favourite Goal: Emmanuel Mayuka gives Zambia lead against Tunisia The sweetly-stuck half-volley was just reward for the Chipolopolo player who was a constant threat. He should have scored a brace, though. Pity Zambia couldn’t protect their lead as they ended up losing 2-1. Favourite Save: SA’s Darren Keet v Algeria Before he let in three goals, Keet made a fantastic double save that denied the Desert Foxes – brilliant stuff. Favourite Celebration: None The celebrations I’d seen so far were very ordinary. Favourite Magic Moment: Moussa Sow, the super-sub Every coach loves it when he brings on a player who makes an immediate impression. Alain Giresse would have been super delighted at having brought on Moussa Sow late in the game and see him deliver the killer goal that gifted the Lions of Teranga maximum points in their 2-1 win over Ghana – magical. BRIAN MOLOTO Favourite Match: Senegal v Ghana Full of drama from the early minutes leading up to the winning goal in the dying seconds of added on time. Favourite Goal: Seydou Doumbia of Ivory Coast v Guinea The goal had it all – precision inter-passing, control and finishing involving the Ivory Coast’s three top players, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony combining to set up Seydou Doumbia to cancel out Guinea’s lead. Favourite Save: Ghana’s Brimah Razak denies Mame Biram Diouf of Senegal Razak’s reflex save to stop Diouf’s overhead kick was brilliant. Favourite Celebration: Malick Evouna So far there haven’t been any special celebrations, but Evouna’s little dance after scoring Gabon’s second goal was cool. Favourite Magic Moment: Frederic Bulot sets up Gabon goal He skinned a Burkina Faso defender with a step-over before whipping in a pinpoint cross that landed flush on Malick Evouna’s head to simply direct the ball into the net. MOHAU RAMASHIDJA Best Match: Gabon v Burkina Faso A fantastic match that had it all. Two fabulously taken goals in Gabon’s 2-0 win. The ball distribution by both sides was impeccable, tackles were hard but clean and overall it was a competitive match, the one-sided scoreline notwithstanding. Favourite Goal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Burkina Faso After his first shot was parried back into his path, he showed great composure to control the ball and curl it past the advancing defender and the goalkeeper into the net. Favourite Save: Robert Kidiaba against Zambia The DR Congo goalkeeper pulled off a superb save to parry the ball away, having left his line when Zambia attacked. But he was let down by his defence, who failed to clear the loose ball from which Chipolopolo scored the opener. Favourite Celebration: Robert Kidiaba of the DRC When his team equalised on 66 minutes, the 38year-old goalkeeper couldn’t contain his excitement and did that trademark ‘bum hop’ of his and was soon among the trending topics on twitter. Favourite Magic Moment: Congo snatch a draw against the hosts They showed heart throughout the remainder of the second half after going down and continued pressing for a goal they eventually got it via Thievy Bifouma. That was great fighting spirit!