adminTHE curtain final comes down on Afcon 2015 in Equatorial Guinea with a mouth watering clash between two teams eager for success after long spells in the doldrums.
The four times champions Ghana will face Cote d’Ivoire in an all West African final this evening, with the former aiming for a revenge for the 1992 loss to the latter, who will, conversely, be seeking a repeat act of what happened 23 years ago.
Ghana, just like the Pharaohs of Egypt have reached the final of the championship on eight occasions, but the Black Stars’ semi-final win over Equatorial Guinea has set a new tournament record as it had taken the Black Stars five years to smash their Afcon semi-final jinx, and now they are after the icing on the cake.
Ghana have won just four titles from their eight previous grand finales. They won the championship in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982, while they failed to win the 1968, 1970, 1992 and 2010 finals.
Although they played in eight finals, Egypt remains the most prolific nation in the history of the tournament with five wins from eight finals.
And today’s is a dream match for football fans all over the continent, what with the two teams’ European touch and pedigree, a mother of all battles expected to determine which team is the best in the whole of our pride, Africa.
When one thinks of powerhouses in African football, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana are near the top of that list. Both countries have produced players that are stars for their clubs in Europe and both have featured in the previous three World Cups.
Ghana has won four Africa Cup of Nations titles, but the last of those championships came in 1982. Cote d’Ivoire has won the tournament once before in 1992, when they, ironically defeated Ghana in the finals.
Cote d’Ivoire are in the finals after cruising to a 3-1 win over surprise semi-finalist DR Congo, while Ghana handed host nation Equatorial Guinea a 3-0 drubbing on their way to the final matchup.
The one sure big change for Cote d’Ivoire is the absence of striker and former talisman Didier Drogba, who retired from international duty after last year’s World Cup without ever lifting Africa’s top prize. But Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Wilfried Bony, Seydou Doumbia, Cheick Tiote and Gervinho are survivors of the team that fell to Zambia in that miserable final loss in Gabon in 2012.
Ironically, Zambia went through to the finals after beating Ghana 1-0 in the semi-finals.
A quick look at the two sides ahead of today’s final.
FIFA World Ranking:
Cote d’Ivoire: 28
Ghana: 37
2015 AFCON results:
Cote d’Ivoire:
1-1 draw vs. Guinea, 1-1 draw vs. Mali, 1-0 win vs. Cameroon, 3-1 win vs. Algeria, 3-1 win vs. DR Congo
Ghana:
1-2 loss vs. Senegal, 1-0 win vs. Algeria, 2-1 win vs. South Africa, 3-0 win vs. Guinea, 3-0 win vs. Equatorial Guinea
Premier League players:
Cote d’Ivoire: Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Wilfried Bony (Manchester City)
Ghana: Christian Atsu (Everton), Kwesi Appiah (Crystal Palace)
Player to watch:
Cote d’Ivoire: Gervinho
The Roma striker was shown a red card in Cote d’Ivoire’s opening match, and was suspended for the final two games of the group stage. In his two matches back, the former Arsenal man has scored twice. Gervinho is quick and crafty, and will surely be looking to avenge his missed penalty kick in the 2012 Afcon finals, which Cote d’Ivoire lost to Zambia.
Ghana: Asamoah Gyan
The Black Stars’ captain and all-time leading goalscorer is already one of the greatest African players ever. He has scored at three World Cups and seemingly always finds that clutch goal for his side. Gyan rested because of an injury during the semi-final match, but is expected for the finals.
Coaches:
Avram Grant, Ghana
Ghana coach Avram Grant says qualifying the Black Stars for the Nations Cup final when no one expected him to, ranks as one of his biggest achievement as a coach. And that for a man who took Chelsea to the Champions League final.
The Israeli succeeded Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah last November after a long search and will lead the team today in search of ending Ghana’s 33-year wait for a Nations Cup title.
No foreign coach has achieved Nations Cup glory with Ghana as their country’s ninth appearance in a Nations Cup final, a tournament record with the Black Stars winning only four of the previous eight. Grant will be hoping to change that against the Cote d’Ivoire who themselves are hoping to be third time lucky in the Nations Cup final.
Herve Renard , Cote d’Ivoire
Herve Renard is partially responsible for Cote d’Ivoire’s recent agony at the African Cup of Nations. Now he has to undo, or at least underplay, some of the pain he caused.
Renard was coach of Zambia when it upset the Ivorians in the final in 2012, a second loss on penalties in the deciding game for Cote d’Ivoire, which still hasn’t won Africa’s football championship since its one and only title in 1992.
Now the Cote d’Ivoire coach, Renard has the strange task of ensuring underdog Zambia’s triumph three years ago, was no fluke, but this time his work appears easier with a star-studded side.
May the better team win?
My Prediction: Cote d’Ivoire will take it this time around.
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Online Reporter