There was finally lots of goals to talk about as Burkina Faso take a surprise lead of Group C. It was a tale of two penalties between Zambia and Nigeria as goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene secured a point for Zambia five minutes from time. In perhaps, on paper, the most unappetising tie of the tournament, Burkina Faso versus Ethiopia, there was four goals and a sending off. The possible group outcomes will be reported further in.
The pitch at the Mbombela Stadium resembled more of a beach than a football carpet and it definitely caused problems for both teams. In fairness, both teams made a good go of it and made for a pretty entertaining game. Emmanuel Mayuka and Victor Moses didn't start in their opening matches but both looked threatening in the early going.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty halfway into the first half when Ahmed Musa was brought down by Davis Nkousa. For some reason, captain John Obi Mikel, who has been sent off more times for Chelsea than he has actually scored for them, decided to take it. Mikel has scored twice in 261 appearances for Chelsea and only three times for Nigeria in 38 games and he never looked like scoring as he stood over the penalty. True to form, Mikel ran up and his scuffed effort hit the post and somehow went out for a corner.
Zambia's best chance of the half came just before the half hour mark when Chisamba Lungu's effort was smartly saved by Vincent Enyeama. Nigeria started the better in the second half and Mikel managed to redeem himself 12-minutes into it. The Chelsea midfielder dispossessed Lungu and found Emmanuel Emenike to slot home for his second goal of the tournament.
Zambia looked to reply instantly but Rainford Kalaba couldn't beat Enyeama. But Zambia were given their chance five minutes before the end when Mayuka was tugged in the box by Ogenyi Onazi. It was a bit soft but well worth giving as everyone got to see the keeper, Mweene, step up and coolly sent Enyeama the wrong way to seal a point.
Burkina Faso, maybe surprisingly, dealt the first thrashing of the tournament. But it was Ethiopia who had the best opening chance when Shimeles Bekele was put through one on one, but his effort could only come back off the post. Both teams created chances in a rather attacking match and the deadlock was broken 11-minutes before half-time when Charles Kabore's cross was controlled and rifled into the roof of the net by Alain Traore, his second goal of the tournament.
Ethiopia looked unable to recover from the hammer blow, but were given a chance when Burkina Faso were down to ten men on the hour mark. In a similar incident to Ghana in the previous day, Abdoulaye Soulama caught the ball just outside of the box. But unlike Ghana, Soulama was sent off for deliberate handball.
But this didn't deter Burkina Faso and they would be 2-0 ahead on 74-minutes; Jonathan Pitroipa laid the ball off to Traore who smashed a magnificent shot from outside the box into the net. Five minutes later and Burkina had assured themselves of all three points when Djakaridja Kone finished off a neat one-two with Pitroipa. With two assists under his belt, Pitroipa deserved a goal and it came via a powered shot from the edge of the box in injury time.
Possible Group Outcomes
- If Zambia & Nigeria both win = Both go through with goal difference determining group winner.
- If Zambia & Ethiopia both win = Zambia win group, Burkina Faso progress on head to head with Ethiopia.
- If Zambia win & Ethiopia v Nigeria ends in a draw = Zambia win group with Burkina Faso second.
- If both games end in a draw = Burkina Faso win group, goals scored will determine who progresses out of Nigeria & Zambia.
- If Zambia v Burkina Faso ends in a draw & Nigeria win = Nigeria and Burkina Faso progress, Nigeria will have to win by five goals to win group.
- If Zambia v Burkina Faso ends in a draw & Ethiopia win = Burkina Faso win group, Ethiopia second.
- If Burkina Faso & Nigeria both win = Both progress with Burkina Faso group winners.
- If Burkina Faso & Ethiopia both win = Both progress with Burkina Faso group winners.
- If Burkina Faso win & Ethiopia v Nigeria ends in a draw = Burkina Faso win group, Nigeria second.
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