THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 SPORTS Tunisia coach Leekens plays down group hopes EBEBIYIN: Tunisia coach George favourites to go all the way and win the the group. We have never said we are Ahmed Akaichi and Edem Rjaibi for the Bullets) must do without midfielder Leekens has played down the strength February 8 final. But far from seeing his going to top the final standings.” His moderate performance. Nathan Sinkala, whose knee injury of his team ahead of an Africa Cup of Eagles as strong title candidates, caution stems partly from a less-than- “We used two newcomers against against the Congolese will sideline him Nations showdown with fellow former Belgian Leekens surprised reporters in impressive 1-1 opening draw with Cape Cape Verde and this upset our rhythm. for four weeks. champions Zambia in Equatorial Guinea north-eastern town Ebebiyin by saying Verde last Sunday. Opening group games are always diffi- Cup of Nations rules do not permit today. Tunisia were not even the group Mohamed Moncer gave the 2004 cult because you do not know how your replacements. Veteran DR Congo goal- The Carthage Eagles were ranked the favourites. champions a mid-second-half lead only opponents play.” Zambia, shock win- keeper Robert Kidiaba says the second best African national team This view contrasts with the popular for Heldon to level from a penalty he ners of the 2012 Cup of Nations co- Leopards must be wary of the Cape behind neighbours Algeria by FIFA this pre-tournament media belief that Cape created soon after. “We will be more hosted by Equatorial Guinea, were for- Verde Blue Sharks in the second match month. That placing puts them five Verde, DR Congo and Zambia would focused for our next two games,” prom- tunate to draw 1-1 with DR Congo after of a Neuvo Estadio de Ebebiyin double- spots above nearest Group B rivals Cape fight for second spot behind Tunisia. ised Leekens, referring to fixtures snatching a 62-second lead through header. “We must take Cape Verde seri- Verde, nine ahead of Zambia and 11 Leekens, twice manager of Belgium and against the Zambians and the Given Singuluma. ously because they are organised and above the Democratic Republic of briefly coach of Algeria, said: “At this Congolese. Coach Honour Janza looked on the have proved to everyone that they Congo. stage every team in the group is the He blamed late injury-induced squad bright side: “It was most important that deserve respect,” said the shot-stopper And a leading British bookmaker has favourite to finish on top. changes which saw Fakhreddine Ben we did not lose, and lessons were famous for his bouncing-bottom goal made the North Africans 9-1 fourth “Tunisia are not the favourites to win Youssef and Saber Khalifa replaced by learnt.” The Chipolopolo (Copper celebrations. —AFP Group D favourites on ropes already in Cup of Nations MALABO: Group D favourites Cameroon win the game.” His opposite number and and the Ivory Coast breathed a sigh of relief fellow Frenchman Michel Dussuyer on Tuesday as both came from behind to remarked: “In the end we’re a bit frustrated draw their opening matches at the 2015 because we let the game go at a time when Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. we were in control of events.” A goal down and a man down against The Estadio de Malabo had been some Guinea after the sending-off of Gervinho, way short of full during the first game of the Ivorians had substitute Seydou Tuesday’s double-header, but by time kick- Doumbia to thank for salvaging a point off arrived between Cameroon and Mali, from a 1-1 draw in the first game of the day there was not an empty seat to be found, at the Estadio de Malabo. and indeed many fans were forced to gath- And later the Indomitable Lions of er in gangways to try and catch a glimpse Cameroon came from behind to draw 1-1 of the action. with Mali as Ambroise Oyongo cancelled They saw a game that came to life in the out Sambou Yatabare’s second-half opener closing stages, with Sambou Yatabare con- to leave Group D perfectly poised ahead of trolling and volleying home at the back the second round of matches. post after a free-kick had been flicked on Elephants’ coach Herve Renard has been 19 minutes from time. quick to play down his side’s chances of It was not enough for Mali to win the winning the continental crown for the first game, however, as right-back Oyongo, of time since 1992, and things looked bleak MLS outfit New York Red Bulls, latched onto for them after an hour of an entertaining Raoul Loe’s high ball and equalised with encounter with their west African neigh- only six minutes left. bours. Sambou Yatabare had what would have Guinea took the lead eight minutes been a stoppage-time winner for Mali disal- before the interval when Lyon striker lowed because of offside, but the Eagles’ Mohamed Yattara lashed the ball high into Polish coach Henryk Kasperczak was never- the roof of the net after the Ivory Coast theless content with his side’s display. defence made a mess of dealing with a “It was a very complete performance, hanging cross from the Syli Nationale’s with intensity and a good rhythm. We stand-in skipper Ibrahima Traore. played quality football against a Cameroon Gervinho, who had been the Ivorians’ team whose own qualities we are well most enterprising player and hit the wood- aware of,” he said. work in the first half, then saw red just The second round of games in Group D before the hour mark after a clash in the will be played in Malabo on Saturday, with Guinea box which left the impressive Naby the Ivory Coast facing Mali before EAST LONDON: West Indies, Narsingh Deonararine, at the wicket during their ODI cricket match against South Africa in East London, South Keita on the ground. Cameroon face Guinea. In Group A, hosts Africa, yesterday. — AP Traore then crashed a shot against the Equatorial Guinea take on 2013 runners-up bar for Guinea, before substitute Doumbia, Burkina Faso while Gabon meet Congo of CSKA Moscow, came on to equalise 18 Brazzaville looking to clinch their place in S Africa cruise to series minutes from time after linking up with the last eight with a game to spare. Wilfried Bony. The hosts, meanwhile, must move on “If it was before the game we wouldn’t from their opening 1-1 draw with Congo, be happy with this result. In the first half we when they had a second goal wrongly dis- win over woeful W Indies weren’t fantastic but should have been in allowed before being pegged back late on. front from two chances for Gervinho. Then On Tuesday, the country’s football feder- we lost a goal from an error of communica- ation complained of a plot to stop them EAST LONDON: On a pitch which captain Jason tial partnerships. Philander had opening bats- dropped catches in making his runs off 71 balls. tion,” said Renard. from progressing in the competition. say- Holder admitted held no terrors, the West Indies men Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle caught South Africa fielded the same side for the “We pushed forward and then Gervinho ing it was “a planned action to complicate collapsed to 122 all out and suffered a humiliat- behind inside the first four overs and fast bowler third match in the row and captain AB de Villiers was sent off. We had to react, but even at Equatorial Guinea’s chances of reaching the ing nine-wicket defeat in the third one-day inter- Dale Steyn followed up with the wickets of said it was an important win ahead of the World 10 against 11 we could have gone on to quarter-finals.” —AFP national against South Africa at Buffalo Park yes- Narsingh Deonarine and Denesh Ramdin as the Cup next month. terday. West Indies stumbled to 43 for four. “We’ve said that in the knockout stages of the Marlon Samuels made 26 but no other West Samuels looked the one batsman capable of World Cup you need to win three matches in a Indian batsmen reached 20 in a dismal perform- playing a major innings before he was caught on row and we’ve done that,” said de Villiers, who ance on a good pitch. Man of the match Vernon the long-off boundary off Tahir. scored the fastest ever century in one day inter- Philander took two wickets inside the first two The South Africans were batting before the national cricket in the win last Sunday. overs and finished with three for 27, while leg- scheduled supper break and needed just an With the series secured, De Villiers said the spinner Imran Tahir claimed a career-best four hour afterwards to secure the win. remaining members of the World Cup squad for 28. Amla cruised to his 61 off 63 balls with nine would get an opportunity to play in the two South Africa needed just 24.4 overs to com- fours, while Du Plessis profited from two remaining matches. — AFP plete a series-clinching win. Hashim Amla took his tally for the series to 280 runs for once out with an unbeaten 61 not out, while Faf du Plessis SCOREBOARD made 51 not out. It was another crushing defeat for the West EAST LONDON, South Africa: Final scoreboard in the third one-day international between South Africa and the Indies following a one-sided encounter in the West Indies at Buffalo Park yesterday.