Monday was not a night for champions as reigning African Nations Cup holders Tunisia were trounced 3-0 by Guinea and ended up second in group C.
While coach Roger Lemerre’s gamble on playing a second-string side backfired — admittedly they were beaten by a virtual reserve side themselves — at least they still have an interest in the tournament, whereas 1996 champions South Africa reached new depths as they were beaten 1-0 by Zambia.
Not only did Bafana Bafana finish bottom, but they failed to register a point or score a goal — surely the end of their 69-year-old coach Ted Dumitru and a real need for a complete overhaul of the side.
Whether victory — the goal coming from Christopher Katongo 15 minutes from time — keeps Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya in a job is open to question after he was openly criticised by the authorities.
Lemerre’s misery — they also had Issam Merdassi sent off — was his French compatriot Patrice Neveu’s delight as the previously unheralded coach pulled off a magical win.
Guinea — whose goals came from Ousmane Bangoura, Pascal Feinduono, their second and third scores of the tournament, and one from Kaba Diawara — will now face the runners-up in group D and Tunisia will play the winners of that group.
The Guineans, though, will have given Tunisia a real wake-up call and alerted them that their bid to become only the second team to retain the trophy since it opened up to a 16-team event is not going to be an easy ride. Lemerre is also bidding to become the only coach to win the title at least twice.
The match was marred for several minutes by Tunisian fans and Egyptian spectators throwing insults and missiles at each other, but once the formidable police presence moved in and kept them at a safe distance, it all calmed down.
Despite the police, one Tunisian invaded the pitch, but unlike in Europe the chap was able to run to the terrace holding the Tunisian supporters and was even given a helping hand up by the police standing there.
Lemerre, though, was defiant about his choice of team.
”The result is one thing, the managing of a squad another,” said the former France coach. ”Guinea did the same thing and they won. The team [Tunisia] lacked character and, yes, it is a blow. At international level, players have to be leaders and certain of mine were not tonight [Monday].”
”It is a failure and I assume responsibility for it,” added Lemerre, who landed the Euro 2000 title before leaving the French post after a disastrous defence of their world crown in 2002.
Neveu was understandably proud of his team.
”We are very proud. Perhaps it wasn’t their best team, but it was still an official international match,” said the Frenchman. ”We came here as outsiders and we remain outsiders.”
While they march on, both Dumitru and Bwalya face uncertain futures.
Dumitru studiously avoided to talk about his fate — though realistically there can be only one end for the Romanian-born handler — while Bwalya had no doubts.
”It was my first African Nations Cup and it won’t be my last. We were unlucky,” said the former African Footballer of the Year.
Time will soon tell if he has another one, but for Lemerre and Neveu there are more immediate concerns at this edition — winning it. — Sapa-AFP