In other news, there was a thrilling match in Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations as Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo played out a 1-1 draw. Morocco took an early lead through Achraf Hakimi’s volley, but DR Congo fought back and equalized through Silas Katompa Mvumpa. Both teams now have a chance of progressing to the knockout stage, along with Tanzania and Zambia, who drew 1-1 in their match.
Meanwhile, in Group E, South Africa bounced back from their loss to Mali with a convincing 4-0 victory over Namibia. Veteran Themba Zwane was the star of the show, scoring two goals. This result puts South Africa back in contention for a spot in the next round. The group remains wide open, with South Africa, Mali, Namibia, and Sudan all still in with a chance.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui admitted that he made mistakes in his team’s draw against DR Congo. He acknowledged that his second-half substitutions did not have the desired impact and that tactically, they should have done better. Regragui also praised DR Congo, calling them the most difficult team in the group and acknowledging that they deserved the draw.
Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who came on as a substitute and scored the equalizer for DR Congo, was named the man of the match. Despite being happy with the individual award, he expressed disappointment with the result, as he believed there were opportunities for his team to win the game.
The Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver exciting matches and unpredictable results. With several teams still in contention for a place in the knockout stage, the competition is heating up. Fans can look forward to more thrilling encounters in the coming matches as teams battle it out for glory.
In other news, teams participating in the Africa Cup of Nations are finally getting some relief from the scorching heat. The match between Tanzania and Zambia was the last to kick off at 1400 local time, providing some respite from the intense temperatures that reached up to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) during previous matches.
Aliou Cisse, the coach of defending champions Senegal, has called on the organizers to reconsider match times for future tournaments. He believes that adjusting the schedule to avoid playing in the hottest parts of the day would be beneficial for the players’ well-being. Cisse suggests implementing this change starting with the 2025 finals in Morocco.
In the match between Tanzania and Zambia, it seemed like Tanzania would finally secure their first Africa Cup of Nations victory after 44 years of participating in the tournament. They took the lead in the 11th minute through Simon Msuva’s close-range shot. However, Zambia’s Patson Daka equalized with a near-post header just two minutes before the end of regular time, denying Tanzania their long-awaited win.
Zambia faced adversity when their captain, Roderick Kabwe, received a second yellow card just before halftime and was subsequently shown a red card for elbowing Tanzania’s captain, Mbwana Samatta. The decision sparked protests from the Zambian team, and even coach Avram Grant received a yellow card from the referee.
In another match, Themba Zwane proved his worth for South Africa, despite doubts about his age. Zwane, who was considered “too old” for international football at 32 by coach Hugo Broos, scored two goals against Namibia. Percy Tau also contributed with a penalty conversion, helping South Africa secure a three-goal lead in the first half. South Africa’s victory was further solidified by Thapelo Maseko, who scored in the closing stages of the match, resulting in their biggest win in the tournament so far.
Despite their impressive victory, South Africa’s place in the last 16 is not guaranteed. Mali currently leads the group with four points, followed by South Africa and Namibia with three points each, and Tunisia with one point. The competition remains tight, and all teams will be fighting hard to secure their spot in the knockout stage.
As the Africa Cup of Nations progresses, teams are not only battling on the field but also contending with extreme weather conditions. With the tournament organizers urged to reconsider match times, players can hopefully perform at their best without being affected by the intense heat. Fans can look forward to more exciting matches as teams strive for victory and a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.
