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Robson Sharuko
Senior Sports Editor
SEVEN minutes in Abidjan and SEVEN hours in Cairo.
The powerful CAF machinery threw everything at David Mandigora, as the battles for 2008 Champions League semi-final spots, reached a climax.
But, where the Glamour Boys had wilted, in Abidjan in 1998, after a brutal pre-match attack ruled Memory Mucherahowa out of their biggest game in history, Mandigora and his men, found a way to survive the gamesmanship.
And, on both occasions, the dark shadows of the then CAF president, Issa Hayatou and his Ivorian friend, Roger Ouegnin, the boss of ASEC Mimosas, loomed large.
Sunday Chidzambwa, and his troops, were the first to feel the full weight of these machinations, at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny, in the CAF Champions League final decider, on December 12, 1998.
After their inspirational skipper, Mucherahowa, was head-butted into unconsciousness, during warm-up, requiring emergency treatment at hospital, the Glamour Boys choked, and crashed, to a 2-4 defeat.
Hayatou, in attendance at the stadium, chose to ignore the incident, with the Ivorians escaping without even a warning, from the continental game’s leadership.
That this horrific attack had been orchestrated by the opposition players, against the visiting team’s skipper and most influential player, in the biggest club game in Africa, should have forced the game’s leadership to act.
Just like how their French authorities reacted, by abandoning the Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyon and Bastia, in April 2017, after ‘keeper Antony Lopes was attacked by a group of the home fans.
Of course, Hayatou and his CAF leadership turned a blind eye, to this shameless plot by the hosts, to severely weaken the opposition.
After all, the Cameroonian strongman was a good personal friend of the ASEC Mimosas president.
Remarkably, it was the second time, in three years, in which ASEC Mimosas were handed by Hayatou and his colleagues the privilege of hosting the decisive second leg, of the CAF Champions League final, in their backyard.
On both occasions, they took on Southern African opposition.
Orlando Pirates beat them 1-0 in Abidjan, through a Jerry Sikhosana goal, to win the 1995 edition of the tournament.
Hayatou’s close friendship with Ouegnin came to light, in August, 2015, when the Cameroonian strongman personally intervened, and forced the co-option of the ASEC Mimosas boss, into the CAF Legal Affairs Committee.
Known as ”Colombo” by his club’s fans, Ouegnin had lost his place, on the CAF Organising Committee for the Inter-Club competitions, after the Ivorian Football Federation, proposed he be replaced, by one of their committee members, George Ezzaley.
However, using his powers as the CAF president, Hayatou ordered that his friend be incorporated into the organisation’s Legal Affairs Committee.
And, when Hayatou was ousted by Ahmad Ahmad, on March 16, 2017, Ouegnin was one of the few men who publicly remained on his side, probably remembering the favours he used to get from his close friend.
“As you leave your functions as president of the African Football Confederation, it is with sincerity that I come to congratulate you on the dynamism that you have instilled in African football”, wrote Ouegnin, in a farewell letter, to his colleague.
“History will remember your commitment to raise African countries to the level of great football nations and that Africa owes you for having organised its first Football World Cup and so many other successes.”
Of course, the machinations of Hayatou, especially his clear attempts to always try and give ASEC Mimosas a helping hand, were also laid bare, by two incidents, which could have affected Dynamos’ fate, in the competition, in 2008.
When Mandigora and his Glamour Boys arrived in Abidjan, in September 2008, a victory for the hosts would have effectively booked them a place in the final of the tournament.
With five points on the board, the victory would have taken ASEC Mimosas’ tally to eight.
And, given their better goal difference over Zamalek, who had five points, the Ivoirians would have booked their place in the final, irrespective of the outcome of the final match, between the Egyptians and Dynamos, in Harare.
So, when Phillip Marufu thrust DeMbare into the lead in the 54th minute in Abidjan, he threw the cat among the pigeons.
But, the hosts fought back to equalise in the 73rd minute, through Cyriac.
With 90 minutes on the clock, and the game tied 1-1, it wasn’t the result the hosts wanted.
And, against all expectations, the match officials added seven minutes, which many neutrals felt were meant to give the Ivorians, a very good chance, to get the killer goal.
However, as many of them poured forward, in search of the golden goal, they were caught on the break.
And, Marufu ghosted into acres of open spaces, straight at the goalkeeper, to score the winner for the Glamour Boys.
That stunning victory for Mandigora, and his men, brought them firmly back into the race for the other ticket, from the group, to join runaway leaders Al Ahly, in the semi-finals.
Dynamos were now on six points while Zamalek and ASEC were on five points, with Ahly on 11 points, and just one game left for all the teams.
This meant any of the three clubs – Zamalek, ASEC and Dynamos – could still accompany Ahly into the last four, depending on their results, in the final games.
Ordinarily, this would have meant the two matches, Dynamos versus Zamalek in Harare, and Ahly versus ASEC in Cairo, would be played at the same time.
However, Hayatou still had one more ace, on his sleeve, to try and help his friend Ouegnin, with the CAF leaders somehow delaying the match in Cairo, between Ahly and Cairo, to start seven hours, after the one in Harare.
This was meant to try and give ASEC the advantage, as they would have gone into the game knowing what they really needed, to qualify, given they were playing an Al Ahly side, who had already qualified, and could not lose their top spot.
But, Mandigora and his troops ensured all the machinations, and mathematics, would be irrelevant as they beat Zamalek 1-0, the only result which would make the delayed game in Cairo, of academic interest.
And, for the second time in as many weeks, even the powerful helping hand of Hayatou, and his CAF machinery, could not derail Mandigora’s men, and boost the interests of the Cameroonian strongman’s good friend in Abidjan.
Final Group A Standings (2008 CAF Champions League)
P W D L F A Pts
Al-Ahly (Cairo) 6 3 3 0 9 – 6 12
Dynamos (Harare) 6 3 0 3 6 – 6 9
ASEC (Abidjan) 6 1 3 2 7 – 6 6
Zamalek (Cairo) 6 1 2 3 4 – 8 5
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