Wrap Up
Group of draws
AFCON 2015 Group produced 5 stalemates and a draw of luck
had to decide the runner-up... Writes Johannes Masiteng.
PHOTOS: afcononline.com
W
hen the Africa Cup
of Nations 2015
draw was made in
December 2014 in
Malabo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast,
Mali and Guinea were grouped
together in Group D, a group
some referred to as a ‘Group of
Death.’ Well, it wasn’t the case
in the tournament as the group
turned out to be a ‘Group
of Draws.’
The group produced a total of
5 draws out of 6 matches as Ivory
Coast won their last encounter by
a solitary goal to win the group.
The first group D match
resulted in a 1-all stalemate
as 10 men Ivory Coast fought
back to settle for a share of
spoils against Guinea. Later that
night, the match between Mali
and the Indomitable Lions of
Cameroon produced the same
result as Onyongo Bitolo found
the late equaliser for Cameroon 6
minutes from time.
The second matches also
produced the same results with
Ivory Coast yet again finding the
late equaliser through Gradel
against Mali, while Cameroon
were held to a 1-all draw by
Guinea. This made all the teams
level on every statistic going to
the final group matches.
Ivory Coast secured their
place in the last 8 with a 1-0 win
over Cameroon, while Mali and
Guinea could not be separated
as their match ended in
a 1-all draw.
With Ivory Coast winning
Group D, the draw of lots had to
be called up to decide the group
runner-ups as Mali and Guinea
were level on every statistic and
head-to-head. The lucky draw
favoured Guinea who were
thumped 3-0 by Ghana in the
Quarterfinals. Group B also had
draws as were knocked without
losing a single match.
Sent packing Zambia and Cape Verde
players comfort each other as their sides
were eliminated in the first round.
Fun Fact
Of the 32 AFCON
2015 fixtures, 15
ended in draws, 10 of
which ended in 1-all
stalemates.
AFCON 2015: The Review 13