World Cup Debate: CAF Team Of The Match Day

Peter Pedroncelli picks out the best performers after this weekend's action in the CAF qualifying groups for the 2010 World Cup...

Mar 30, 2009 1:20:12 PM

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This round of combined African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying matches will go down in history for the tragedy that took place before the match between the Ivory Coast and Malawi rather than the football that was played on pitches throughout the continent, but Goal.com wants to remember those that passed away in the incident by glorifying their heroes on the pitch, for whom they were coming to the stadium in the first place.

Only those African players taking part in the ten qualifying games played this past weekend have been considered for this team. The eleven is as follows in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with four substitutes afterwards:

CAF Team Of The Match Day
                                                         
                                        Kapango
Ammar Jemal - Romuald Boco - Hany Said - Kolo Toure
 Moustapha Salifou - Mafisango Mutesa - Ndri Romaric
                                     Issam Jemaa
                    Didier Drogba - Moumouni Dagano

GOALKEEPER


Kapango (Mozambique) - To keep players like Ikechukwu Uche, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Victor Nsofor Obinna from scoring for 90 minutes, it takes an impressive display and a goalkeeper of note, so Kapango of Mozambique gets our nod after keeping a clean sheet against the Super Eagles.

DEFENDERS

Ammar Jemal (Tunisia) - It’s not often that a defender gets onto the score sheet, but Ammar Jemal did just that when he netted the opener in Tunisia’s 2-1 victory over Kenya.

Romuald Boco (Benin) - Despite suffering a loss, Boco helped his side to keep Ghana at bay, stopping them from scoring for 89 minutes of the match in Accra after conceding early on.

Hany Said (Egypt) - The Egyptian was a solid figure at the back for his team in their 1-1 draw with Zambia, and despite receiving a yellow card, his defending was exemplary for the Pharaohs.

Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast) - Most of the play between Ivory Coast and Malawi took place in the Malawian half, but the Arsenal defender was on hand to make sure any counter attacks or hopeful dribbles were dealt with professionally, even helping out in attack on the odd occasion.

MIDFIELDERS

Moustapha Salifou (Togo) – The hard worker did well to hold the Togo midfield together against some of Africa’s finest middle men, allowing his side to celebrate a 1-0 home win against the Indomidable Lions.

Mafisango Mutesa (Rwanda) - The midfielder did well for Rwanda against Algeria, helping his side to secure a valuable 0-0 draw, and coming close to scoring on a few occasions, including a free kick in the early stages of the game.

Ndri Romaric (Ivory Coast)
- Midfielder Romaric got his Ivory Coast side off to the best possible start with a first minute goal that proved to be the catalyst in a 5-0 thrashing of Malawi.

STRIKERS

Issam Jemaa (Tunisia) – The striker scored Tunisia’s winner over Kenya, allowing them to start off the next phase of the qualifying campaign in the best possible way.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - The big attacker was back with a bang for the Ivory Coast, as the big Chelsea frontman led his team to a 5-0 annihilation of Malawi with two goals.
 
Moumouni Dagano (Burkina Faso) - Dagano scored a brace for Burkina Faso in their 4-2 victory over Guinea, including one from the spot. He secured the win for his country when Guinea were mounting a comeback, making sure of three points in the process.

SUBSTITUTES

Mudathir El Tahir (Sudan); Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo); Dennis Banda (Zambia); Katalena Aubameyang (Gabon).

This CAF Team of the Weekend is dedicated to the people that lost their lives on Sunday, as well as their families. May their souls rest in peace.

What do you think? Do you think someone's missed out? Let us know your thoughts.

Peter Pedroncelli and Samm Audu, Goal.com
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