African Cup of Nations: Matchday 2

Group A
Libya 2-2 Zambia
Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Senegal

Group B
Sudan 2-2 Angola
Ivory Coast 2-0 Burkina Faso

Group C
Niger 1-2 Tusisia
Gabon 3-2 Morocco

Group D
Botswana 1-6 Guinea
Ghana 2-0 Mali

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea's win puts them at the top of the group and guarantees they move into the next round, eliminating Senegal from contention. The first draw of the group stage between Libya and Zambia provides some drama for the final matchday. Libya must beat Senegal, and hope that Equatorial Guinea beats Zambia as well, if they hope to qualify for the quarterfinals. If both games end up 1-0 then we could see two teams level on goal differential as well, and subject to the confusing tiebreaker rules of the ACN. Zambia can progress with a draw as well, but will be playing for the win in order to take top in the group; a better seed in the next round is at stake.

I caught some of the Sudan v Angola game, and saw a horrible defensive give-away by Sudan just outside the box that resulted in the opening goal by Manucho. Great line from the announcer: "The goalkeeper's first touch is to fish the ball out of his own net." Mohamed Youssif Basheer tied the game up just after a half hour of play with a header inside the far post, redirecting Eithab Careca Mudathir's cross from the right flank. Angola took the lead back just after the break on a penalty taken by Manucho. Sudan tied the game back up with a second from Basheer on a terrible defensive clearance to split the points on the day. The draw keeps Sudan alive, needing a win over Burkina Faso and an Angola loss to Ivory Coast to move on. Burkina Faso was eliminated with their loss to Ivory Coast, as Salomon Kalou opened the scoring in the 16', and Babary Kone put it in his own net late to finish off the game.

Issam Jemaa scored at the stroke of full time to give Tunisia the win over Niger in Group C. Gabon defeated Morocco in a crazy game with four goals in the final fifteen minutes, the final two coming in stoppage time. Morocco drew level on a Houssine Kharja penalty resulting from a handball. Kharja had opened the scoring after 24', and Morocco held the lead well into the second half. Pierre Aubameyang and Daniel Cousin scored back to back goals to give Gabon the lead before the penalty, and substitute Zita Mbanangoye ripped a free kick inside the post in the dying moments to scratch out a win for the co-hosts. It was definitely the most exciting game of the tournament so far. The results eliminate Niger and Morocco from the tournament, with Gabon and Tunisia to square off on the final matchday with the top of the group at stake.

Guinea demolished Botswana in the competition's highest scoring game and largest margin of victory at the end of the second matchday. Sadio Diallo opened the scoring for Guinea in the 15' with a nice volley from a cross sent in by Abdoulaye Camara. A penalty was given to Botswana in the 21' after a deserved yellow card against keeper Naby-Moussa Yattara, who subsequently saved Dipsy Selolwane attempt; he was ruled to have come off his line, and this time Selolwane put it away. Diallo put Guinea back ahead though just 4 minutes after Botswana drew level, again finding the net from a great cross from the left wing. Camara then scored his own goal 15 minutes later on a superb strike to the inside right corner. Botswana's chances were dashed when Patrick Motsepe was sent off for a terrible and dangerous challenge, and Ibrahima Traore put his free kick around the wall and off the post on its way into the back of the net. With Botswana down three goals and a man, Guinea did not run up the score in the second half until the last ten minutes, when Mamadou Bah hit a powerful strike from distance and substitute Naby Soumah scored on the counter-attack.

Mali came close to scoring on a free kick in the first half when Cheick Diabate hit both posts. Asamoah Gyan showed him how to do it in the 63', bending it over the wall into the top right corner of the goal. Gyan turned provider with a sublime back-heel to feed Andre Ayew into the box, who worked his defender into a spin then put it low just inside the post. The result leaves Group D as the only group without at least one team guaranteed to move on to the next round, with Ghana leading the group but needing a draw against Guinea to ensure their passage. Guinea and Mali need to best the other's result to move on, with Mali having the easier test against Botswana. Ghana can still miss out if they lose to Guinea and Mali can overcome the four goal difference while beating Botswana.