Malawi gained its first ever victory at the African Cup of Nations
with a 3-0 win over World Cup qualifier Algeria in Group A on
Monday, while tournament favorite Ivory Coast could only manage a
scoreless draw against west African neighbor Burkina Faso in Group
B.
Following Togo's withdrawal from the tournament, Ivory Coast
will have to beat Ghana on Friday in Cabinda in its last group
match to be guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals.
"The game against Ghana will be a crucial one," Ivory Coast
defender Kolo Toure said. "But I'm confident we will work hard.
Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa. We'll need to show
character, we have the spirit, the team."
Ghana was scheduled to play its first game later Monday
against Togo, which withdrew after two members of its delegation
died in an gun attack on the team bus on Friday.
In Luanda, Russell Mwafulirwa grabbed the opener for Malawi
at a largely deserted city stadium after 17 minutes, blasting a
left-footed shot into an empty net after a goalkeeping blunder by
Fawzi Chaouchi. Bryson Kafoteka doubled the lead with a header in
the 36th before Davi Banda netted Malawi's third with a low shot in
the 49th.
Algeria, champion in 1990, struggled to create meaningful
chances against a side whose only previous appearance at the
African Cup finals was in 1984.
The result means that Malawi leads Group A with three points,
two ahead of Angola and Mali, who drew 4-4 in the tournament's
opening match on Sunday.
"We know we are being treated as the underdogs," Malawi's
South African-based midfielder, Josephy Kamwendo, said. "We know we
are playing against big teams but, like them, we are here to win."
Despite Monday's loss, Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said it
was too early to give up.
"We still have a chance to progress but we need to play well
against Mali," he said. "We have ... to talk about today's game and
work on our tactics."
In the northern enclave of Cabinda, Ivory Coast, boasting
major stars including Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Eboue,
failed to take a number of chances against a side it twice beat
during qualifying.
Marseille striker Bakary Kone missed several clear chances,
the best one in the 68th minute when he missed the target from
close range following a back pass from Gervinho.
Drogba was also denied a penalty in the second minute after
appearing to be brought down in the box.
Burkina Faso's Moumouni Dagano had a chance to score in the
67th but goalkeeper Boubacar Barry stretched to his left to block
the shot.
Ivory Coast, which won its only African Cup in 1992, and
Burkina Faso have one point each in Group B.
Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic was disappointed by the
result but pleased by his players' attitude.
"They kept fighting until the end," he said. "This time we
lacked a bit of luck. But this is not over yet."
