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Day two of the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations saw three former champions win as Senegal top their group
On the second day of the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2018, it was the chance for former champions to take a step towards repeating their past successes.
Except Cameroon, who are not competing in this edition of the tournament, every previous winner of the African title was in action, and each one took three points.
Senegal netted 12 against first-timers, Tanzania, while Nigeria made up for yesterday’s loss by beating Libya.
However, the day kicked off when two-time runners-up, Côte d’Ivoire, took on 2015 champs, Madagascar…
Côte d’Ivoire 3-4 Madagascar
Both of these African powerhouses competed in the last CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Nigeria in 2016. However, they didn’t meet in the competition, being drawn in different groups and neither of them managed to progress past the group stages.
But both have strong history in the competition, as Côte d’Ivoire finished runners-up in both 2009 and 2013, while Madagascar won the 2015 edition in Seychelles, and it was they who immediately set the pace of their opening tie in Sharm El Sheikh.
With two seconds on the clock, Regis volleyed in the game’s first goal, directly from kick off and before the Côte d’Ivoire had time to blink, they were behind. It wasn’t too long before they had a reply though, as Aka found some space to bury the equaliser.
A sweet strike from the Madagascan, Fitana, saw the lead retaken, only to be cancelled out a few minutes before the first break, when Aka burst down the left flank to drive in another equaliser and the teams were equal as the first whistle blew.
High pressure tactics saw Madagascar driving forward straight from the start of second period and before long their diligent work forced an error from the Ivorian number one, Cocou, who gave away a penalty which Ymelda calmly put away.
In the lead once more, the men in white and green did well to maintain this slender lead into the second break, as the third period got underway with the score at 2-3. Try as they might, the Côte d’Ivoire just could not break through their rivals’ defence.
Even when Aka went on a blistering run and seemed to have beaten everyone except the keeper, his shot bobbled harmlessly wide. But just a minute later, Papet went on a run of his own, and drove a low shot into the corner, levelling up with just minutes of normal time to go.
But, following the rhythm of the game, the former champions struck again, and it was Regis from the penalty spot, claiming the game’s first and last goals to clinch victory for Madagascar.
They will play hosts Egypt tomorrow, whilst Côte d’Ivoire will face Morocco.
Goals: 0-1: Regis, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Aka, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Fitana, min. 8 (1); 2-2: Aka, min. 4 (1); 2-3: Ymelda, min. 9 (2); 3-3: Papet, min. 4 (3); 3-4: Regis, min. 2 (3);
Nigeria 6-3 Libya
In terms of previous records in this competition, Libya and Nigeria had very contrasting ones. However, the two-time champions and three-time runners up, Nigeria, had lost their opening game and Libya had won theirs, and on top of that, this game started a much closer contest than many would have predicted.
The first to draw blood was Ogbonna, the Nigerian number ten, who volleyed home directly from the kick off, in exactly the same fashion as Madagascar had done in day two’s previous game.
But the Libyans didn’t falter at this setback, and managed to dispossess the Nigerian defence, draw the keeper out and score, as Islam drove in a shot to add to his goal from the previous day. Then, after being fouled just outside the box, Islam secured a brace from a set piece, and suddenly Libya were in the lead.
As the first period ticked on, Nigeria built up the pressure and had freekicks of their own in promising positions, forcing some fine saves. A leveller did come, as Nigeria’s star number eight, Abu, fired in with four minutes to go.
Not finished yet, there was still time in the opening period for the Nigerians to show what else they had in their locker, as Suleman took the lead with just two minutes of the first period remaining, and then, to top it off, Ohwoferia blasted a freekick most of the length of the pitch to increase the advantage to two goals going into the second period.
Finding themselves on the backfoot, Libya were suddenly defending frantically, but managed to keep the deficit to just two. But another goal was coming, and following some confusion in the Libyan penalty area, Ogbonna pounced to grab his second of the match and extend the lead to 5-2.
Then Abu made it 6-2 and it looked as if Nigeria were running away with this game. Esam pulled one back just before the whistle but, at 6-3, Libya has some work to do in the final period if they wanted to take anything from this tie.
The pace slowed in the third period as a tired-looking Libyan side did their best to keep out more goals while Nigeria were also happy to sit on the lead that they had earned, and see the game out.
A few more acrobatic saves at both ends made sure that no more goals were scored in the tie and the final whistle blew with the score at 6-3.
Nigeria pick up three points and will face Tanzania tomorrow. Meanwhile, Libya will try and return to winning ways against defending champs, Senegal, on Tuesday.
Goals: 0-1: Ogbonna, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Islam, min. 9 (1); 2-1: Islam, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Abu, min. 3 (1); 2-3: Suleman, min. 2 (1); 2-4: Ohwoferia, min. 1 (1); 2-5: Ogbonna, min. 5 (2); 2-6: Abu, min. 4 (2); 3-6: Esam, min. 1 (2);
Tanzania 2-12 Senegal
Considering it was their first appearance in the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania had somewhat of a baptism of fire, being draw against the last edition’s runners-up and, today’s opponents, Senegal.
The defending champions had seen off Nigeria the day before and they wasted no time in asserting themselves over the newcomers. After scoring two yesterday, Diassy found some space to turn and shoot within the first two minutes, opening the scoring for Senegal and putting Tanzania immediately on the backfoot.
It wasn’t long before the second came as Diange fired a long-range effort from deep inside his defensive half to beat to keeper. Barry was then impeded as he attempted an overhead in the area and a penalty was awarded and converted by the number 11 to make it three.
The goalkeeper Seyni was next to get on the scoresheet, taking the count to 0-4 and, apart from a few shots and a corner, Tanzania had very little by way of a response to this barrage that they were suffering. They were glad to hear the first whistle blow, but not before Raoul could control the ball with his chest a turn to drive home a fifth.
At the start of the second period Diassy grabbed his second of the match from a rebounded penalty, but just minutes later was stretchered off with an injury, which could be costly for the Senegalese title-defending campaign.
Before long, Bleck made it seven with a volley, until Fall, and two from Diouf, took the tally to ten. However, a penalty for Tanzania saw Juma drag a goal back with just moments of the second period left, and then Tumbo lashed home a loose ball to make it two to Tanzania.
The third period began at 2-10, and although Tanzania had showed spirit in the dying seconds of the second period, it seemed that they had given their all and two more goals from Senegal, courtesy of Raoul who completed his hat-trick, took the final score to 2-12, and Senegal are well on their way to keeping hold of the African continent title.
Tomorrow sees Tanzania face Nigeria, whilst Senegal have until Tuesday to prepare for their bout against Libya.
Goals: 0-1: Diassy, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Diange, min. 8 (1); 0-3: Barry, min. 6 (1); 0-4: Seyni, min. 4 (1); 0-5: Raoul, min. 1 (1); 0-6: Diassy, min. 11 (2); 0-7: Bleck, min. 8 (2); 0-8: Fall, min. 7 (2); 0-9: Diouf, min. 4 (2); 1-9: Juma, min. 1 (2); 1-10: Diouf, min. 0 (2); 2-10: Tumbo, min. 0 (2); 2-11: Raoul, min. 2 (3); 2-12: Raoul, min. 1 (3);
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