Supporters at the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Zambia and Sudan remember the victims of the soccer violence at Port Said stadium. On February 1st, 74 people were killed when supporters clashed at an Egyptian soccer match. Reigning champions Egypt are the most successful team in the competition(***)s history but failed to qualify for the 2012 tournament [Reuters]
Published On 13 Feb 201213 Feb 2012
In the first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final Sudan were pulled apart by a vastly superior Zambian side. Here Ramadan Alagab of Sudan (front) struggles with Chisamba Lungu of Zambia for possession, something the Sudanese spent a lot of the match doing unsuccessfully [Reuters]
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Zambia ease to their first Nations Cup semi-final since 1996 putting three goals past the Sudanese defence. James Chamanga (pictured) finished off the scoring for The Copper Bullets. Sudan were going home and Zambia had fired themselves into a semi-final with either Ghana or Tunisia [AFP]
Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea shocked even their own supporters by making the quarter-finals of the competition. However, the favourites Ivory Coast now stood in their way. Here Thierry Tazemeta of Equatorial Guinea (r) is tripped up by Ivorian Jacques Gosso Gosso during the clash but could his team claim a remarkable win over the favourites? [Reuters]
...No is the answer! An Ivory Coast fan lies in a heady euphoria after seeing the Elephants triumph over Equatorial Guinea. Didier Drogba was twice on target as the Ivorians also claimed a 3-0 victory. However, most fans will not be content until the Ivory Coast raise the trophy [AFP]
The third quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations provided more of a competiton with co-hosts Gabon and Mali going head-to-head in an encounter that went down to the wire, or to put it more accurately, down to penalties [Reuters]
After being only six minutes from victory the night turned on Gabon dramatically when they were defeated 5-4 in a penalty shootout. Mali celebrated their unlikely progress while 40,000 home supporters went silent in Libreville(***)s new stadium. Here the Gabon team pay respects to those silent fans [Reuters]
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Fingers were flying in the last quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations between Tunisia and Ghana. Here Tunisia(***)s Aymen Abdennour (L) has a fierce finger battle with Ghana(***)s Jordan Ayew. When the fingers were put away the eventual winners of the clash were...[Reuters]
...Ghana who scored in extra-time when a Tunisia mistake gifted the Black Stars the win. Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Mahtlouthi spilled a cross for Andre (***)Dedi(***) Ayew to tap home. The Ghanaian fans went wild and the Tunisia fans went home [Reuters]
Although the Black Stars have been far from impressive in the tournament, the Ivory Coast should fear Ghana (pictured) who look to end a 30-year Africa Cup of Nations drought. The teams can meet in the final as they avoid each other in the semi-final. And the prospect of that is tantalising, don(***)t you think? [Reuters]
But a Ghana v Ivory Coast match-up wasn(***)t to be with Zambia shocking Ghana in their semi-final. The Copper Bullets shot through to the final with a late winner over the Black Stars. Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan was left to rue a missed penalty as his team(***)s journey in the competition came to an end [Reuters]
However, the favourites - the Ivory Coast - didn(***)t follow the same fate as Ghana, progressing to the final after a brilliant Gervinho goal gave them victory over Mali. Zambia have a tough final against the Elephants but in the Africa Cup of Nations anything is possible [Reuters]
In a thrilling final Zambia lifted the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after beating Ivory Coast 8-7 in a drama-filled penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw. Ivory Coast had a chance to win but captain Didier Drogba squandered a penalty 20 minutes from time [EPA]
