Burkina Faso vs Zambia
The Burkinabe will fly
into the contest filled with confidence after their emphatic 4-0
victory over Ethiopia in the same stadium they compete in now. Still, it
would take a brave man to bet against Zambia, who won so many admirers
with their emotional victory in 2012. The Stallions’ victory last week
might have flattered them as well, with Ethiopia becoming visibly
demoralised as the game progressed.
In their final group game, Burkina Faso and Zambia clash at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, with qualification to the knockout rounds the very visible prize.
The west Africans will, however, be without veteran keeper Abdoulaye Soulama, recalled to the team by Paul Put, but who was dismissed in the second half for handling outside his area.
Alain Traore, Nigeria’s nemesis back in the first match, will once again look to be the hero. The French-based player, currently the tournament’s top scorer, could score the goals to secure Burkina Faso’s place in the knockout stages.
The west Africans will, however, be without veteran keeper Abdoulaye Soulama, recalled to the team by Paul Put, but who was dismissed in the second half for handling outside his area.
Alain Traore, Nigeria’s nemesis back in the first match, will once again look to be the hero. The French-based player, currently the tournament’s top scorer, could score the goals to secure Burkina Faso’s place in the knockout stages.
Few would have predicted, when the Afcon schedules will drawn out, that Burkina Faso would top the group at this late stage, yet the Stallions’ four points have been earned on merit. Zambia, on the other hand, are in danger of crashing out - their euphoric victory a year ago but a distant memory.
Herve Renard will hope not, and will be able to call on the sublime talents of Rainford Kalaba, who looked so influential and impressive against Nigeria, to try and save his side. The crux of last season’s victorious side will also be present, and the likes of Christopher Katongo, Joseph Musonda, and the heroic Kennedy Mweene will do everything in their power to keep the side alive.
Nigeria vs Ethiopia
Rustenburg will be the venue for the Super Eagles’ final Group C match—a contest which will decide the immediate future of the nation’s football. How will the nation remember the 2013 Cup of Nations? Will this be the year of what-ifs and might-have-beens? The year when the side conceded late equalisers against Burkina Faso and Zambia, throwing away four points in the process.
Or, will it be the year when the side overcame some perceived injustices to qualify from a tricky group and make an emphatic return to the continent’s high table? The future is still in the hands of the Super Eagles, for whom the permutations are numerous.
All Stephen Keshi will be telling his boys is that a win against Ethiopia will guarantee their place in the quarter-finals. The Black Lions may well be in disarray after their demolition at the hands of Burkina Faso, and shorn of the confidence that characterised their opening battle with Zambia, the Big Boss may well identify the Walya Antelopes as ripe for the taking.
After impressing in the first two fixtures, the duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa will likely be the key attacking options for Nigeria. Despite his nervous penalty miss, John Obi Mikel’s improvement throughout the Zambia match will not have gone unnoticed—indeed, it was his pass which led to Emenike’s opening goal against Chipolopolo.
Defensive resiliency has been the issue for Naija in the first two games, and Keshi might be tempted to recall skipper Joseph Yobo, who sat out of the second fixture against Zambia.
Or, will it be the year when the side overcame some perceived injustices to qualify from a tricky group and make an emphatic return to the continent’s high table? The future is still in the hands of the Super Eagles, for whom the permutations are numerous.
All Stephen Keshi will be telling his boys is that a win against Ethiopia will guarantee their place in the quarter-finals. The Black Lions may well be in disarray after their demolition at the hands of Burkina Faso, and shorn of the confidence that characterised their opening battle with Zambia, the Big Boss may well identify the Walya Antelopes as ripe for the taking.
After impressing in the first two fixtures, the duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa will likely be the key attacking options for Nigeria. Despite his nervous penalty miss, John Obi Mikel’s improvement throughout the Zambia match will not have gone unnoticed—indeed, it was his pass which led to Emenike’s opening goal against Chipolopolo.
Defensive resiliency has been the issue for Naija in the first two games, and Keshi might be tempted to recall skipper Joseph Yobo, who sat out of the second fixture against Zambia.
