EBEBIYIN, Equatorial Guinea - Zambia and Congo drew 1-1 to open Group B at the African Cup of Nation
Bestyrer: KAZ, --Michael--, Joddler
Ophavsmand
Indlæg
jokergreen02
Wed Aug 09 2017, 09:07AM
Gæst
EBEBIYIN, Equatorial Guinea - Zambia and Congo drew 1-1 to open Group B at the African Cup of Nations on Sunday at a tiny new stadium carved out of the dense jungle in the far north-eastern corner of Equatorial Guinea. San Diego Padres Jerseys .Zambias Given Singuluma struck first after an early error by Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba in the remote town of Ebebiyin near the borders with Cameroon and Gabon maybe one of the unlikeliest venues to host two former African champions.Congo equalized in the 66th when Yannick Bolasie swept a shot into the top left corner after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area.The teams were the first at the African Cup to play at Ebebiyin Stadium, a 5,000-seat ground hastily put together for the continental championship and with no stands behind the goals. Local fans not used to this standard of soccer cheered both countries, and roamed around the stands in long lines, dancing and chanting and enjoying their rare exposure to top-level football.Outside the ground, more people made themselves at home under a huge tree, setting up makeshift tents and shelters away from the black-suited riot police who had to make the three-hour drive up from the city of Bata to provide security for the game.Ebebiyin is one of the venues under especially close scrutiny in the hurried buildup to the Cup of Nations. Its a town of just over 30,000 people with little football infrastructure.Its OK. We are not complaining, Zambia coach Honour Janza said. We are enjoying the atmosphere. I think it reminds us of 2012. So I think we are OK.Zambias only previous African Cup title came in 2012, when Equatorial Guinea co-hosted the tournament.On Sunday, the Zambians got a lucky early break when Kidiaba punched the ball straight to Singuluma, who drilled it back past the keeper into the net.Congo stamped its authority on the game from then on, with Bolasie forcing Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene to block a close-range shot in the seventh minute, and sending a deflected free kick just past the right post toward the end of the first half.Bolasie did find the net in the second half, and ran all the way to the dugout to do a little jig with his teammates.Ebebiyin Stadium was full by the end of the game, including a packed section of Congolese supporters in one corner banging drums constantly. The pitch wasnt good, though, cutting up often and forcing players to stamp big lumps of turf back down again.But Equatorial Guinea only had two months to prepare for this tournament after Morocco withdrew as host, and the Central African country had just a handful of stadiums it could use to save the African Cup.We knew that (Equatorial) Guinea obviously wasnt ready to host this African Cup of Nations, said Congo captain Youssouf Mulumbu, who plays in the Premier League. I dont want to criticize them. They do their best. If we want to be in better conditions, we need to go past this group stage.Tunisia plays Cape Verde in the second Group B game at Ebebiyin later on Sunday. Randy Jones Jersey . "This doesnt end anything," he said. "Weve got 10-1 in our last 11 games, and were going home in first place. We just have to keep playing the way we are right now. Erick Aybar Jersey . Anor had not scored since getting his first two goals of the season vs. Philadelphia on March 22 but struck with laser precision from distance in the 56th and 75th minutes. Montreal (3-10-5) lost its third straight and Impact coach Frank Klopas said it literally was a case of his players not stepping up. http://www.baseballpadresmlb.com/authentic-jhoulys-chacin-padres-jersey/ . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half.The Copa America Centenario is heading north. CONMEBOL and CONCACAF have scheduled a press conference for Thursday in Miami where it is expected that both federations will confirm that the 2016 edition of the Copa America will be held in the United States and CONCACAF will be represented. Along with the 10 South American members of CONMEBOL, the US and Mexicann national teams and four other CONCACAF squads, are expected to participate in a 16-team tournament. Tony Gwynn Jersey. The 2016 edition of the tournament is its centenary. The first edition, in 1916, was held in Uruguay. Uruguay are the current holders of the title, having defeated Paraguay in 2011. Uruguay has won the competition a record 15 times. Cheap NFL JerseysWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysJerseys From ChinaWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL JerseysCheap Jerseys ' ' '
