Africa Cup of Nations
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Played
February 4, 2012 7:00 PM GMT
Nuevo Estadio de Malabo — Malabo
Referee:‬ E. Maillet‎
 
36′ Didier Drogba
 
69′ Didier Drogba
 
81′ Yaya Touré
 

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Preview: Cote d’Ivoire – Equatorial Guinea

There is going to be a showdown in Malabo as the pre-tournaments favourites come face to face with the co-hosts who have shocked both critics and fans

By Kent Mensah

More On :  Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire vs Equatorial Guinea
CAN 2012 : Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Panoramic

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

COTE D'IVOIRE

Barry
Lolo, K Toure, Bamba, Tiene
Gosso, Y Toure, Tiote
Kalou, Drogba, Gervinho
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
 
Danilo
Alvarez, Da Gracia, Kamissoko, Doe
Bolado, Juvenal, Fidjeu-Tazemeta, Konate
Randy, Balboa
Fireworks, physical football and tight marking is just some of what should be expected in the second quarter-final game of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

It is a battle of pre-tournament favourites against co-hosts who have stunned their critics. The west Africans arrive at the knock out stage with a clean sheet and have so far proven to be the strongest side in the 28th edition of the continental flagship.

The central Africans, debutants though they are, have left both admirers and critics shell-shocked and after having crashed out pre-tournament favourites Senegal from the competition with a 2-1 victory, pre-tournament doubting Thomases have changed their minds and now believe that they will be able to give the Ivorians a good run on Saturday.

On paper the Elephants have won the game with a star-studded unit comprising of Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Arsenal’s Gervinho, but the Nzalang Nacional could pose as a strong opposition coupled with the huge home support at their disposal.

 DID YOU KNOW?

  • This is the third time Cote d’Ivoire has qualified for the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
  • The Elephants were once banned from the competition in 1978.
  • Cote d'Ivoire have won the Afcon trophy once and that was two decades ago.
  • Equatorial Guinea's Brazilian coach Gilson Paulo has been rewarded for the good work he produced in qualifying the team for the quarter-finals of the Afcon with a year-extension on his original two-month contract.
  • The Nzalang Nacional have not qualified for the tournament before this Afcon.
  • The co-hosts are ranked 151st on the Fifa rankings.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 Equatorial Guinea
    21.31 %
  • Cote d'Ivoire 2-0 Equatorial Guinea
    19.67 %
  • Cote d'Ivoire 3-0 Equatorial Guinea
    11.48 %
Head to Head
Africa Cup of Nations ‎(ACN)‎ Feb 4, 2012 Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Equatorial Guinea 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
Equatorial Guinea
Feb 4, 2012Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Equatorial Guinea 0ACN
Jan 29, 2012Equatorial Guinea 0 - Zambia 1ACN
Jan 25, 2012Equatorial Guinea 2 - Senegal 1ACN
Jan 21, 2012Equatorial Guinea 1 - Libya 0ACN
Nov 15, 2011Madagascar 2 - Equatorial Guinea 1WCQ
Odds
Returns: Cote d'Ivoire £13.60 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: Equatorial Guinea £710.00 William Hill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1CopaGoalkeeper
14Arthur BokaDefender
5Kolo ToureDefender
-Sol BambaDefender
8Didier ZokoraMidfielder
-Jean Jacques GossoMidfielder
17Kafoumba CoulibalyMidfielder
-Max-Alain Gradel
4Yaya Touré Midfielder
7GervinhoStriker
-Didier DrogbaStriker
-Daniel Yeboah TétchiGoalkeeper
16Gérard GnanhouanGoalkeeper
-Brou Benjamin AngouaGoalkeeper
3Siaka TieneDefender
-I. LoloDefender
10Cheikh TioteMidfielder
-PopitoStriker
2Emmanuel EboueDefender
-Seydou DoumbiaStriker
9Salomon KalouStriker
-Wilfried Bony
22Didier Ya Konan Striker
-Emmanuel Danilo Clementino SilvaGoalkeeper
-David Álvarez AguirreDefender
-RuiDefender
-FoussenyDefender
-Ben KonatéDefender
-DoeDefender
-JuvenalMidfielder
-Javier BalboaMidfielder
-Narcisse EkangaMidfielder
-Daniel Ikedo ChigozirimMidfielder
-RandyStriker
-Achille PensyGoalkeeper
-OvonoGoalkeeper
-Dani EvuyDefender
-ColinDefender
-SipoDefender
-RolanMidfielder
-NdongoMidfielder
-DoualaMidfielder
-BoladoStriker
-Fidjeu-TazemetaStriker
-Raúl FabianiStriker
Players to Watch
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
6 3 0 0
The Chelsea star has continued to be an inspiration for his side and will have to rally his men on the field as they hope to end their 20 years drought without the trophy. The Nzalang Nacional will have to check on him before he breaks loose.
Javier Balboa
Javier Balboa
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
4 1 0 0
The Real Madrid winger had hoped to avoid the Elephants at this stage of the competition, but he has no option than put up a good game once again to maintain the Afcon euphoria in his country.
Prediction
It is going to be a tight game and will be too close to call, however, if experience is anything to go by then the Ivorians have it. Perhaps, the end will be decided on penalty shoot outs.
Editor's Prediction
Cote d'Ivoire 2
Equatorial Guinea 1
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Results
Matchday 1
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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