OWN CORRESPONDENT, Accra | Monday 9.20pm.
CAMEROON and co-hosts Ghana scraped into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals on Monday despite both losing in a thrilling finish to Group A.
Cte d’Ivoire defeated Ghana 2-0 in Accra through goals from Bonaventure Kalou and Donald Olivier Sie while an early Massamesso Tchangai goal gave outsiders Togo a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Kumasi.
The shock results left each country with four points after the three-round mini-league and Cameroon (plus two) and Ghana (equal) advanced because they have better goal differences than Cte d’Ivoire and Togo (minus one each).
Cameroon will face Group B runners-up South Africa, Algeria or Democratic Republic of Congo in Accra on Sunday followed by a showdown in Kumasi between Ghana and Group B winners South Africa or Algeria.
Group B concludes on Wednesday with South Africa, one of only two teams in the biennial African football showcase with a 100 percent record, facing Algeria and DR Congo tackling Gabon.
Cte d’Ivoire shrugged off feeble performances in previous matches to dominate Ghana on a hot, balmy afternoon in the Ghanaian capital and had sufficient chances to win more comfortably and eliminate the Black Stars.
The selfishness of Kalou deprived Modibo Diallo of a clearcut chance before the Dutch-based striker atoned in first-half injury time with a sweetly-struck close-range shot past Richard Kingston.
Ghana lived dangerously and Sie hit the underside of the crossbar before flicking the ball past a statuesque defence and darting through to sidefoot the ball into the net with seven minutes left.
Cameroon rested several regulars and paid the penalty against Togo, who snatched a 19th-minute lead when Tchangai pounced on a rebound off goalkeeper Boukar Alioum and slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
Nations Cup action continues on Tuesday in Nigeria with the final Group C games. Egypt play Burkina Faso in the northern city of Kano and Senegal confront Zambia in Lagos. — AFP