Africa Cup of Nations
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Played
January 30, 2012 6:00 PM GMT
Nuevo Estadio de Malabo — Malabo
Referee:‬ S. Jedidi‎
 
33′ Emmanuel Eboue
 
65′ Wilfried Bony
 

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Preview: Cote d'Ivoire - Angola

This final pool game between the Elephants and the Black Antelopes will determine who tops Group B, but for the latter there is more at stake than simply leading the group

By Kent Mensah

More On :  Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Cote d'Ivoire vs Angola
CAN 2012 : Ivory Coast
Panoramic

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

COTE D'IVOIRE


Barry
Lolo, K Toure, Bamba, Tiene
Gosso, Y Toure, Tiote
Kalou, Drogba, Gervinho
ANGOLA

 
Wilson
Zuela, Dany, Mingo Bile, Andre Macanga
Dédé, Gilberto, Miguel Quiame, Mateus
Djalma, Manucho
The last group fixture between Ivory Coast and Angola is a battle for group supremacy. The west Africans are at the summit of Group B with six points while the southern Africans follow with four. The Elephants have already earned their slot in the knockout stage, but the Black Antelopes, have to fight for at least a point to progress.

The odds favour the star-studded Ivorians – pre-tournament favourites – and judging from their performances in their last two games it is clear coach Francois Zahoui’s side are aiming for glory. This could be a test game to try out a few new faces for his side since they have already progressed, but the same cannot be said for coach Lito Vidigal and his charges.

The experienced Palancas Negras find themselves in a tricky position and need not rely on the Sudan-Burkina Faso game to qualify, but they will do their best to at least steal a point in this game so that they make it to the quarter-finals.

Angola keeper Carlos Fernandes collected yellow cards in the last two games, so he will be suspended for this encounter and could be replaced by Primeiro de Agosto shot-stopper Wilson.

Chelsea and Cote d'Ivoire striker Salomon Kalou left the pitch injured against Burkina Faso, clutching his hamstring in what seemed to be a muscle pull, but the team doctors have said that it is a minor problem that subsided and he is expected to start the game against Angola.

 DID YOU KNOW?

  • Cote d’Ivoire have not conceded a goal or lost a game yet in this tournament.
  • The man in charge of the Elephants’ is a local coach who could make a name for himself with this competition after they have tried out several expatriate coaches with poor results.
  • The last time the west Africans won the Afcon trophy was in 1992 in an 11-10 marathon penalty shootout against Ghana in Senegal.
  • Angola will crash out of the tournament if they lose this game and Sudan win their match against Burkina Faso convincingly.
  • The 2010 Nations Cup hosts have won one game, drawn one, scored four goals and conceded three.
  • The Palancas Negras finished at the quarter-final stage in the last two editions of the tournament.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Cote d'Ivoire 2-0 Angola
    26.97 %
  • Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 Angola
    15.13 %
  • Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 Angola
    11.18 %
Head to Head
Africa Cup of Nations ‎(ACN)‎ Jan 30, 2012 Cote d'Ivoire 2 - Angola 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Cote d'Ivoire
Feb 12, 2012Zambia 0 - Cote d'Ivoire 0ACN
Feb 8, 2012Mali 0 - Cote d'Ivoire 1ACN
Feb 4, 2012Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Equatorial Guinea 0ACN
Jan 30, 2012Cote d'Ivoire 2 - Angola 0ACN
Jan 26, 2012Cote d'Ivoire 2 - Burkina Faso 0ACN
Angola
Jan 30, 2012Cote d'Ivoire 2 - Angola 0ACN
Jan 26, 2012Sudan 2 - Angola 2ACN
Jan 22, 2012Burkina Faso 1 - Angola 2ACN
Jan 14, 2012Angola 3 - Sierra Leone 1FR
Oct 12, 2010UAE 0 - Angola 2FR
Odds
Returns: Cote d'Ivoire £19.10 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £410.00 William Hill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Angola £710.00 William Hill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
-Daniel Yeboah TétchiGoalkeeper
14Arthur BokaDefender
5Kolo ToureDefender
-I. LoloDefender
-Sol BambaDefender
17Kafoumba CoulibalyMidfielder
-Max-Alain Gradel
2Emmanuel EboueDefender
-Seydou DoumbiaStriker
-Wilfried Bony
22Didier Ya Konan Striker
1CopaGoalkeeper
16Gérard GnanhouanGoalkeeper
-Brou Benjamin AngouaGoalkeeper
3Siaka TieneDefender
8Didier ZokoraMidfielder
-Jean Jacques GossoMidfielder
10Cheikh TioteMidfielder
-PopitoStriker
4Yaya Touré Midfielder
9Salomon KalouStriker
7GervinhoStriker
-Didier DrogbaStriker
22Wilson AlegreGoalkeeper
2Marco AirosaDefender
-DanyDefender
10José Luis Francisco ZuelaMidfielder
-DédéMidfielder
8AndreMidfielder
-GilbertoMidfielder
-Miguel QuiameMidfielder
14DjalmaStriker
23ManuchoStriker
-MateusStriker
-Hugo MarquesGoalkeeper
5KaliDefender
-AmaroDefender
-Mingo BileDefender
-Osório CarvalhoMidfielder
-JaimeMidfielder
16FlávioStriker
18LoveStriker
-Nando RafaelStriker
-VunguidicaStriker
Players to Watch
Gervinho
Gervinho
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
5 1 0 0
He is the man to watch with his skillful displays in attack. The Arsenal player has been phenomenal for the Gunners and will no doubt be a creative force for the Ivorians if he recaptures his form.
Manucho
Manucho
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 23
Games Goals YC RC
3 3 0 0
The former Manchester United player is one of the influential figures in his side and will be marked closely by the west Africans. He netted a brace against Sudan to edge them closer to the quarters.
Prediction
It will be a tight game with both sides aiming to finish on a high note. A win means a great deal for the Angolans, but the Ivorians will not want to lose a single game to live up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites.
Editor's Prediction
Cote d'Ivoire 1
Angola 1
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Results
Matchday 3
Times In GMT
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Houssine Kharja Houssine Kharja
Midfielder
Morocco 		3 1
Manucho Manucho
Striker
Angola 		3 1
Didier Drogba Didier Drogba
Striker
Cote d'Ivoire 		3 0
Christopher Katongo Christopher Katongo
Striker
Zambia 		3 0
Emmanuel Mayuka Emmanuel Mayuka
Striker
Zambia 		3 0
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