African Sports Monthly February 2013 Issue | Page 17

the whole story of the game. Ethiopia
had their big moment, when they came
from behind with ten men to draw with
the defending champions Zambia.

times playing three games in a week.
Although Yaya Toure scored a couple
of goals he too could not dominate the
way he used to. It is generally felt that
this team might have come to the end
Zambia who were the defending chamof the road, as Drogba may not return
pions and found themselves in a group
for the next tournament, as he will be
with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso
almost 37 then.
were tipped to qualify from this group
Nothing has changed with Ghana. Alwith Nigeria. However they were very
though they possess one of the best
disappointing and crashed out at the
defenses in Africa, they lack the firegroup stages. What a difference a year
power up front to kill off games. Once
makes. It also goes to show that reagain they threw away an opportunity
taining the African Cup of Nations is
to win their fifth title, which has now alvery hard (unless
most become an albayou are Egypt).
tross around their neck.
The only person
If they are going to
who managed to
challenge in the future,
cover himself in
they are going to have
glory from the
to find a striker who will
Zambian team was
either compliment Asathe keeper Kenmoah Gyan or succeed
nedy Mweene who
him. The penalties they
scored two penaltook during the penalty
ties, including the
shootout with Burkina
equalizer against
Faso were dreadful.
Is this Drogba’s Swan song
Nigeria in the dying
minutes. However
Togo led by Emmanuel
we will never forget their victory 12
Adebayor gave a good account of
months previously.
themselves but would be kicking themselves that they wasted a good opporIvory Coast who were once again
tunity to reach the semi final for the first
tipped as favorites to win this tournatime in their history. Adebayor had
ment and labeled as the “golden genchances in the early stages of their
eration” failed to live up to their billing
quarter final with Burkina Faso but he
as they came up short in the quarter fifailed to convert them. However it was
nals against Nigeria. Didier Drogba
still an outstanding achievement that
looked a shadow of himself and this
Togo reached the quarter final for the
might be due to the fact that at the time
first time in their history. Rather than
he was playing in the Chinese league,
criticize Adebayor I would like to comwhich does not have the same intensity
mend him for eventually changing his
as leagues around Europe, such as the
mind to represent his country at the NaPremier League where he was sometions Cup for the first time since the un17