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Nigeria upset hosts South Africa to clinch the third place in Durban
Senegal restated their place at the top of the African Beach Soccer with another brilliant performance in the final of the Power Horse Beach Soccer African Trophy Durban 2015. The Lions of Teranga edged Côte d’Ivoire and avenged their last upset in the Copa Lagos 2014, at the time he claimed the first edition of a continental showdown that makes them more powerful and confident than ever.
Côte d’Ivoire, who had been bringing one some pretty impressive performances lately, following their games at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 and their win in Lagos last December, wanted to have their voice prevail in this final as well. Kablan opened the score for the Elephants, but Faye, impressive today for Senegal, turned the score around with his first two hits.
The clash between the two African beach soccer superpowers was making sparks fly, with a breath taking stroke exchange that made absolutely uncertain who the winner was destined to be. Senegal managed to stay ahead for some minutes, but midway third frame the Ivoirians took over. The Lions of Teranga had had enough of that, and pulled on extra stamina to counteract the Ivoirian momentum.
With two goals, Thioune and Faye got Senegal ahead once again, and decided the final, as the two minutes remaining were not enough for the Elephants to upset the African Kings once again.
Goals: 0-1: Kablan, min. 7 (1); 1-1: Faye, min. 4 (1); 2-1: Faye, min. 10 (2); 2-2: Aka, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Thioune, min. 5 (2); 3-3: Daniel, min. 7 (3); 3-4: Aka, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Thioune, min. 6 (3); 5-4: Faye, min. 2 (3)
Nigeria outpowers South Africa and seizes bronze
The Sand Eagles will fly back to Nigeria with the 3rd place award, after bending hosts South Africa in this last day of the Power Horse Beach Soccer African Trophy Durban 2015. The final score does not reflect how tight the first two periods of the game were, but does clearly picture how the Sand Eagles took hold of the game control and stepped on the gas to seal the win in the third frame.
Despite the Nigerians seemed to be getting in command of the game, with an opening 2-0, South Africa were there to fight until their last breath for a third place that would propel them in the World rankings as well as would give them huge confidence for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers. For the first 24 minutes, the Bafana Bafana replied to every Nigerian strike, equalizing the score again and again.
But the story changed drastically in the last period. The Sand Eagles would not let the third place flee, and geared up for an unstoppable 5-0 run in the last twelve minutes. South Africa could not cope with the pace the Nigerians gave to the game, and ended up succumbing to the Nigerian power display.
Goals: 1-0: Ibenegbu, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Abu, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Mzuwa, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Nesta, min. 11 (2); 3-2: Abu, min. 8 (2); 3-3: Mokababa, min. 5 (2); 4-3: Abu, min. 0 (2); 5-3: Tale, min. 7 (3); 6-3: Abu, min. 5 (3); 7-3: Nesta (og), min. 4 (3); 8-3: Abu, min. 3 (3); 9-3: Emmanuel, min. 1 (3)
Tight win sends Morocco fifth!
The Moroccan National Beach Soccer side ended up clinching the fifth place in this Power Horse Beach Soccer African Trophy Durban 2015, thanks to a narrow win over a surprisingly combative Mozambique. After the stroke exchange, the Lions of the Atlas came up with a two-goal advantage that would give them the final win.
It was clearly stated that today’s game was nothing like an easy march for Morocco. Despite Nassim swept the Maghreb side ahead in the opening seconds, Manoco, key man for the Mambas today, tied the score. Moufakir secured El Hadaouis’s side was getting to the first break with the score on their side, but even despite Morocco’s 3-1, the Mozambicans were still ready for the fight. A 0-3 run got them ahead, and made the Lions of the Atlas fear for a new defeat in the championship.
Morocco geared up in the following minutes, though, to get a 0-3 run of their own and turn things around. That two-goal difference was absolutely crucial for them in the end, as Hélder’s late effort for Mozambique fell one goal short, and the win remained on Moroccan’s hands.
Goals: 1-0: Nassim, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Manoco, min. 4 (1); 2-1: Moufakir, min. 1 (1); 3-1: El Hadaoui, min. 8 (2); 3-2: Betinho, min. 7 (2); 3-3: Manoco, min. 11 (3); 3-4: Manoco, min. 10 (3); 4-4: El Hamidy, min. 9 (3); 5-4: El Hadaoui, min. 6 (3). 6-4: El Karkouri, min. 4 (3); 6-5: Hélder, min. 1 (3)
Ghana clinch 7th after convincing win over Seychelles
The Ghana Beach Soccer National Beach Soccer Team earned the seventh place in this Power Horse Beach Soccer African Trophy Durban 2015, following an incontestable win over Seychelles. The doubles by Adjei, Lamptey, Kwevi and Ofori had the job done for the Ghanaians, who cruised to their first win in the championship.
Ghana began their assault rather soon. Midway half first period, Adjei, Lamptey and Kwevi scored their first goals in the afternoon to give the match an unmistakable red colour. Seychelles were finding it really hard to understand the offensive moves by the Black stars, and the Ghanaians perfectly knew how to take advantage of that.
Three more goals in the second period practically defined the game, as when Cadeau pulled one back for the Pirates, the score was already 1-6. One more goal for Seychelles in the opening of the third frame could spur the Malias-coached side’s expectations, but just to prevent any further scare, Lamptey and Ofori rounded the score and sealed Ghana’s win today.
Goals: 0-1: Adjei, min. 5 (1); 0-2: Lamptey, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Kwevi, min. 4 (1); 0-4: Adjei, min. 7 (2); 0-5: Kwevi, min. 2 (2); 0-6: Ofori, min. 2 (2); 1-6: Cadeau, min. 1 (2); 2-6: Balette, min. 10 (3); 2-7: Lamptey, min. 4 (3); 2-8: Ofori, min. 4 (3);
POWER HORSE BEACH SOCCER AFRICAN TROPHY DURBAN 2015
Friday 06.03.15
13.00 – Morocco 4(1)-4(3) Cote d’Ivoire
14.15 – Senegal 4-2 Mozambique
15.30 – Nigeria 5-2 Ghana
16.45 – South Africa 2-1 Seychelles
Saturday 07.03.15
13.00 – Seychelles 0-6 Morocco (Playoff for 5th Place)
14.15 – Mozambique 2-1 Ghana (Playoff for 5th Place)
15.30 – Senegal 6-5 Nigeria (Semifinal)
16.45 – South Africa 1-9 Cote d’Ivoire (Semifinal)
Sunday 08.03.15
13.00 – Seychelles 2-8 Ghana (7th Place Match)
14.15 – Morocco 6-5 Mozambique (5th Place Match)
15.30 – Nigeria 9-3 South Africa (3rd Place Match)
16.45 – Senegal 5-4 Côte d’Ivoire (Final)
Final Standings:
Senegal – Champions
Côte d’Ivoire – Runner-up
Nigeria – 3rd place
South Africa – 4th place
Morocco – 5th place
Individual awards
MVP: Daniel (CIV)
Top Scorer: Abu (NRA)
Best Goalkeeper: Enam (CIV)
