Ghana will go into the final group games as the most confident in Group B after a 1-0 victory over Mali. The defeat for Mali may set up a winner takes all battle against DR Congo who recorded a goalless draw against Niger, who claim their first ever point in African Cup of Nations history. Niger aren't out by any means but knowing that they have to win against Ghana and hope Mali fail to win can only grant them a place in the knock-out phase, and that's only on goal difference. Group possibilities will be outlined at the end.
The action between Ghana and Mali was rather few and far between in yet another underwhelming match between two, on paper, attacking teams. Ghana could have been down to ten men just after five minutes when Fatau Dauda mis-read a pass back and ended up handling the ball outside the box. This was deliberate handball and the Ivorian referee could have easily sent the keeper off instead of just brandishing the yellow.
Both teams showed some attacking intent without actually working either keeper. With only six shots on target throughout the whole game, it implies the little attacking class that shone through for another small crowd. The only goal of the game came seven minutes before half-time when Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu was brought down by Adama Tamboura. Mubarak Wakaso stepped to take the penalty and slotted it home.
Asamoah Gyan did look dangerous when Ghana attacked, but was never on hand to test the keeper or get a shot away. Another seven yellow cards also add to the already enormous tally and shows, again, how stop start African football has become, it turned to be a foul after every other minute.
The game between Niger and DR Congo fared no better as they had nearly 30 fouls in the first half alone. In fairness to them, only three yellow cards were brandished during the match. The closest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was on four minutes when Niger had broken through the defence and Modibo Sidibe was one-on-one with the keeper. The unattached striker opened his body up to curl the ball into the bottom corner, but he over thought his approach and ended up hitting the post.
DR Congo's main reason as to why they didn't score was Kassaly Daouda who performed a number of great saves. Niger had the best of the possession in the first half as DR Congo were happy to hit them on the counter attack with Lomana LuaLua being thwarted a number of times. The second half was largely uneventful with the teams easily cancelling each other out. But Niger will be the happiest as they gain their first AFCoN point.
Possible Group Outcomes
- If Ghana & Mali both win = Both through with Ghana group winners
- If Ghana & DR Congo both win = Both through with Ghana group winners
- If Ghana win & Mali v DR Congo ends in a draw = Ghana win group and Mali progress
- If both games end in a draw = Ghana win group and Mali progress
- If Ghana v Niger ends in a draw & Mali win = Mali win group and Ghana progress
- If Ghana v Niger ends in a draw & DR Congo win = Ghana & DR Congo through. DR Cong will win group if they win by more than one goal otherwise it'll go on goals scored.
- If Niger & Mali both win = Mali win group and Niger will progress on the head-to-head record with Ghana.
- If Niger & DR Congo both win = Congo DR will progress on goal difference, Niger will progress on head-to-head with Ghana, may win group on goal difference.
- If Niger win & Mali v DR Congo ends in a draw = Depending on goal difference, who progresses out of Ghana, Mali & Niger may be decided on goals scored.
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