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Zimbabwe’s early exit at this year’s African Cup of Nations came with the added embarrassment of being the worst team defensively of all 16 sides present in Gabon.
After a promising display in a 2-2 draw with continental heavyweights Algeria, the Warriors succumbed 2-0 to Africa’s top-ranked side Senegal, before imploding in their final group stage match, going down 4-2 to Tunisia.
Despite scoring four goals in their three matches (joint-third best of all 16 teams), Zimbabwe conceded the most, letting in eight goals in their two losses and one draw, finishing bottom of Group B which resulted in their early plane ticket home.
Egypt boast of best defensive record of the tournament so far, having yet to concede in the continental showpiece.
Below is the defensive record of all teams at Afcon 2017:
0 goals: Egypt
1 goal: Ghana
2 goals: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Mali, Morocco, Senegal
3 goals: Ivory Coast, Uganda, DR Congo
5 goals: Guinea Bissau, Tunisia
6 goals: Algeria, Togo
8 goals: Zimbabwe
Based on goals scored and point accrued however, Zimbabwe finish the tournament in 14th of the 16 teams, in a table formulated by Caf:
Exited teams’ ranking:
9. Gabon
10. Algeria,
11. Côte d’Ivoire
12. Mali
13. Guinea Bissau
14. Zimbabwe
15. Togo
16. Uganda
A total of 52 goals were scored in the 24 group stage games — an average of 2,1 goals per match — with DR Congo, Senegal and Tunisia the best attacking teams with six goals apiece. The tournament’s topscorer so far is DR Congo’s Junior Kabananga, who has three strikes to his name.
Fixtures
Sunday, 29 January:
DR Congo vs Ghana
Egypt vs Morocco-Online source
Online Reporter