By Piers Edwards
BBC Africa Sport
Hubert from Tanzania texts in to remind us of the misery of those whose favourites won’t be at January’s finals. ‘It is 00:15am here in Tanzania and though I have to go to work tomorrow, I had to stay near my pc watching BBC live updates – because I love my country. I don’t know why we can’t produce good results at home which could help us qualify. You see, if it was not a draw with Algeria and a bad result when Morocco beat us at home, we could now be celebrating our qualification. It is painful but I love my country and I am fed up setting in front of my tv watching other nations play instead of cheering for my Taifa stars.’
2129 And there you have it. A remarkable weekend of qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations means all the teams at next January’s finals are now known. The qualifying list in full: Mali, Guinea, Zambia, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Sudan, Angola, Botswana and Tunisia will join co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
In Morocco, there are scenes of celebration as the Atlas Lions return to the Nations Cup for the first time since 2008. In Algiers meanwhile, the BBC’s Chloe Arnold says fans seem resigned to the impossibility of having to win by eight goals to qualify. So with their dreams dashed, they are happy with a reasonable performance and a victory to finish with.
2128 FULL TIME Morocco 3-1 Tanzania.
MOROCCO – AND SUDAN – QUALIFY FOR THE 2012 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS.
2127 FULL TIME Algeria 2-0 Central African Republic.
2123 A minute left in Algeria. 2-0 they lead against CAR, but it’s all academic now. Nonetheless, Isat has been most impressed by the away side’s display. ‘BBC, I am watching the Algeria v CAR game. I am really impressed by this CAR team. They’ve been making some really neat passing moves. If they focus and keep working they are not far from causing further upsets in the African game. Isat.’
2122 GOAL! Morocco 3-1 Tanzania.Game, set and match. Russia-basedM’Bark Boussoufa fires home from 20 yards to wrap up the Atlas Lions’ qualification. Joyous fans inside the Marrakech arena are making a lot of noise. Tanzania’s intensity has plummeted.
2120 Final Algeria substitution. Foued Kadir is off and Kamel Ghiles is on.
2120 It looks as though Tanzania’s spirited effort has run out of steam. The game in Marrakech has lost its intensity and Morocco are surely home and dry. Even an equalising goal will not stop their qualification. It’s not just in Morocco that football fans will be celebrating, but in Sudan too. The Nile Crocodiles’ progress as a best runner-up is minutes away from becoming reality.
2118 Algeria‘s Foued Kadir fires a low and hard shot which Gondje blocks with his body. No one in green can turn the loose ball home.
2116 CAR come as close to scoring as they have all game. Captain Eloge Enza fires at goal from 20 yards out but the ball whistles over the bar. Despite lying second in the table at kick-off time, CAR will not be joining Botswana and Niger as first-time qualifiers for the Nations Cup.
2116 Hubert in Dar-es-Salaam still believes. ‘Let’s go Tanzania. Let us produce the result that no-one believes we can do – beating the Atlas boys to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations’. Tanzania trail 2-1 and we’re into the last ten minutes in Marrakech.
2113 Another substitution for Algeria. Hassan Yebda, who netted the opening goal after just two minutes, is replaced by Khaled Lemmouchia with just over 10 minutes left. Algeria lead 2-0, but their qualification hopes are surely dead and buried.
2112 Ten minutes left in Marrakech. That is all that separates the Atlas Lions from returning to a competition they missed in 2010.
2108 Morocco fan Aziz is back in touch. ‘Goooooooooooal!!!!!! World-class goal from a world-class player. Aziz – an Atlas Lion!’ I think we can say that at least one Moroccan has forgiven Taarabt for his walk-out back in June. Lest we forget, Taarabt quit the camp in June when learning he would not start the qualifier against Algeria. Today, he was due to start on the bench but earned his starting place when Youssef Hadji injured himself in the warm-up. And now, to the scriptwriters’ delight, Taarabt is the man leading Morocco back to the Nations Cup. Should they get there, they could pose a challenge.
2107 Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic makes a change. Off comes Ghezzal, on comes Rafik Djebbour who was a major injury doubt for this game.
2104 It may be academic anyway, given Morocco’s 2-1 lead, but Algeria continue to struggle to find a third. This time, it’s Matmour who is denied by excellent goalkeeping by CAR stopper Gondje. Three Algerian corners followed in immediate succession but to no avail. The Desert Foxes, one of Africa’s six representatives at the 2010 World Cup, need a footballing miracle to make it to the 2012 Nations Cup.
2104 Are Nabil’s affiliations in any doubt? ‘TARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ he emails.
2103 In Algiers, the hosts continue to waste chances. This time it’s Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura who scuffs a shot from a promising position on the edge of the box.
2059 GOAL!Morocco regain the lead when Taarabt steps up to fire home a stunning free-kick after 68 minutes. The midfielder shows his gratitude to coach Eric Gerets by running over to kiss the Belgian. Taarabt – back in the squad after Gerets forgave him his walk-out in June – has deserved his goal for his stellar display. He promised a performance to make up for his previous antics and he has delivered. As it stands, Morocco are going through to the Nations Cup as Group D winners – as are Sudan, as one of the best runners-up.
2056 Morocco fan Nabil Soussi is clearly sitting rather uncomfortably right now: ‘Morocco will never fail to frustrate me,’ he emails. ‘One time, many moons ago they called us the Brazil of Africa. Ever since it seems we automatically presume that we are the Brazil of Africa and yet we are shocked whenever our fancy tricks and flicks don’t pay off. How about we keep it simple lads and more importantly, keep our shape? Other than that let’s go Morocco!!!’
2053 Algeria go close again. Just before the hourmark, Hocine Metref caps a fine intricate passing move when sliding a low cross along the face of the goal – but Ghezzal arrives a fraction too late to turn it home.
2045 Algeria can smell a third but after a lofted pass puts Ghezzal clean through, the referee blows up for an infringement. Frustration for the Desert Foxes who need goals – both from themselves and Tanzania.
2045 Fairly quiet in Marrakech at the moment, although Boussoufa has wasted a chance to put Morocco back in front.
2040 Another great chance for CAR but Algeria goalkeeper Mbolhi, who once had trials at Manchester United, denies the visitors again.
2039 Hamza Amma emails: ‘I feel like I support the two most frustrating teams in the world. Arsenal and Morocco are just the same. Make so many chances but can’t finish them!! A win I predict for Morocco though!’
2039 Algeria kick off the second half againstCAR in Algiers. They need another six unanswered goals, and Tanzania to win in Morocco. A big, and surely-impossible, ask.
2036 Back underway in Morocco, where the Atlas Lions are being held 1-1 by Tanzania. A point will take Eric Gerets’ side through, but only as long as CAR don’t win in Algeria. At the moment, the Desert Foxes lead 2-0 in Algiers.
2035 Finally, a text in support of Morocco. Aziz in London says: ‘Come on Morocco! We’re getting the spaces, controlling the pace we just need the final touch!!!’
2032 More texts coming in. Mohammed from Tanzania says ‘Well done Taifa Stars for equalising against Morocco.’ While another Taifa Stars fan – Daniel Sawa – says: ‘Although it looks as if all is lost for my beloved Taifa Stars, Morrocco should prepare themselves for the shock of their lives. Go Stars go!’
2030 It’s nearly midnight in Sudan but some of their fans are still following the action. Adel has texted in to say: ‘So far so good for the Sudan. I hope they qualify and spread joy in this difficult year for the country.’ At the moment, the Sudanese are going through as the second best of all the runners-up.
2027 Mbwana Samatta is another to email: ‘If African football underdogs Niger did it, why not we Tanzanians? Come on Taifa Stars – we need goals. Keep going.’
2025 An unnamed Tanzania fan texts in – to+44 7786 20 20 08 – to say ‘Get in!!!! Tanzania – 2 more please, and I’ll got to work a happy man tomorrow morning!’
2020 GOAL! Tanzania have equalised against Morocco. 1-1 at half-time. Morocco aren’t quite so sure – but they will still go through with a draw if Algeria beat CAR.Half-time in Algeria, where CAR’s Foxi Kette Voama spotted Algerian goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi out of position and tried a lob, but the ball landed on the roof of the net. Second decent opening for CAR.
2018 Noel emails fast.track to say things are changing in African football. “Life is difficult for the big African soccer brothers – a definite paradigm shift.” Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa and Egypt might well agree…
2015 Algeria are keeping up the pace in their game too – although if Morocco win it will be to no avail. The BBC’s Chloe Arnold at the game reports that Algeria’s Ghessal sprints on to a well directed pass and looks certain to score but the CAR keeper bravely dives at his feet and the chance is gone.
2008 Morocco are piling on the pressure in Marrakech – but they’re still only 1-0 up against Tanzania. Adel Taarabt is the man of the match so far, according to our reporter watching the game – and he wasn’t even supposed to start (see 1925 entry). He has missed a number of chances though….
2006 Allan emails fast.track to say: “My beloved Taifa stars are out to suprise the Atlas lions. Go Tanzania!” Not looking good for them at the moment though Allan. As things stand Morocco are going through because they would win the group with 11 points. And Sudan are looking good to grab the final runners-up spot too.
2001 GOAL! Algeria are doing their bit to keep their chances alive – Foued Kadirscores to put them 2-0 up against CAR in Algiers with 30 minutes of the first half gone. Karim Matmour broke down the right and fed Kadir, who fired home from only five yards.
1955 Algeria goalscorer Hassan Yebda goes into the book for dissent. He earns a yellow card after contesting the referee’s decision to give CAR a free-kick.
1955 GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Tanzania. Maroune Chamakh, on his return from suspension, heads home a cross from the left.
1954 Algeria think they have won a penalty but their appeals are turned down. Foued Kadir is clear on goal with only the keeper to beat but he falls to the ground after an apparent shove in the back. The referee is not impressed.
1951 CAR come as close to scoring as they have so far, but are only denied by a scramble around the Algeria goalmouth.
1950 The Atlas Lions continue to press – forcing their third corner of the game.
1946 Morocco hit the post but the goal would not have counted anyway. Mehdi Benatia heads against the post but he was offside. Heavy pressure from the home side in Marrakech.
1939 Morocco have wasted two fine opportunities to score in the opening exchanges. In the very first minute, Adel Taarabt is one-on-one with the Tanzania goalkeeper but can’t finish. The same scenario plays out three minutes but this time M’bark Boussoufa is the guilty man for Morocco.
1935 GOAL! Incredible start in Algiers, where the hosts need eight goals if they are to achieve the most unlikely of qualifications. But they’ve begun perfectly, netting within the first two minutes. Hassan Yebdaheading home from a corner. Just another seven to go – although Morocco would still have to lose at home to Tanzania to enable Algeria to qualify.
1933 Tanzania get the game in Morocco underway. CAR kick off the match in Algeria. The matches seem to have started fairly simultaneously.
1932 A minute’s silence is held in Marrakech for the death of Raja Casablanca player Zakaria Zerouali.
1928 Before we get underway, some housekeeping to do. Ivory Coast completed their Group H campaign earlier in the day, beating Burundi 2-1 at home to ensure that they were the only side to go through their qualifying campaign with a 100% record. Brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure grabbed the goals – when was the last time two brothers scored in an international? Text your answer to +44 77 86 20 20 08. Rwanda ended Group H on a high when winning 1-0 inBenin.
Senegal could not quite manage 18 points, but 16 wasn’t bad as the Teranga Lions finished Group E with a 2-0 win inMauritius. Dame Ndoye and Papiss Demba Cisse with the goals.
1925 Breaking news. After all, Taarabt does make the line-up! Youssef Hadji injures himself in the warm-up, meaning the wayward star is in the line up. This now gives him the perfect chance to make amends for his previous behaviour. An estimated 45,000 people are inside the Marrakech Stadium for this game. Fantastic atmosphere inside the stadium according to Moroccan sports reporter Hakim Ghazaoui.
1917 So no surprise to see that Adel Taarabt is on the bench after his behaviour back in June. The QPR midfielder walked out after learning he would be on the bench for the qualifier against Algeria. What chance a repeat performance tonight?! Morocco coach Eric Gerets does have options on the bench, not just Taarabt but the firepower of Youssef El Arabi as well.
1916 Should you want to text in any thoughts, or email any comments, about the weekend’s qualifying action, do get in touch. Text fast.track
1913 Morocco’s line-up for their clash with Tanzania is also known. Nadir Lamyaghri; Badr El Kaddouri, Abdelhamid El Kaoutari, Mehdi Benatia, Michael Basser; Younes Belhanda, Houcine Khharja, M’bark Boussoufa; Youssef Hadji, Marouane Chamakh, Oussama As-Saidi. Subs: Ahmed Mohamedina, Jamal Alioui, Adel Taarabt, Said Fettah, Karim El Ahmadi, Youssef El Arabi, Mustapha Mrani.
1909 Of course, tonight’s results will also determine who will take the last ‘best runner-up’ spot. At present, Sudan hold that position ahead of Cape Verde: both have seven points, but Sudan boast the better goal difference. The Nile Crocodiles will be sweating on results going their way tonight.
1905 Algeria line-up for their must-win tie in Algiers against Central African Republic. Starting XI: M’Bolhi; Mostefa, Bougherra, Bouzid, Mesbah; Metref, Guedioura, Yebda; Kadir, Ghezzal, Matmour. Subs: Zemmamouche, Lemmouchia, Belhadj, Medjani, Ghiles, Djabou, Djebbour.
1903 The mathematics would of course be much easier if Morocco win at home. Should that be the case, they would go through if Central African Republic fail to win in Algeria. Morocco will also qualify with a draw, should CAR draw in Algeria. This is because Morocco have a similar head-to-head record against CAR but have a superior goal difference to them.
1855 Now bear with me, but Group D is a complicated affair. It is in fact the only group where all four teams can still make it through. This would need some unlikely results though, such as a heavy away win in Morocco by Tanzania for example. Or Algeria to thump, totally thump, Central African Republic and hope that Morocco lost at home to Tanzania. Should Tanzania win 1-0 in Marrakech, Algeria could only go through if they beat CAR by eight goals.
1845 GMT After a dramatic weekend of qualifying, there are just two places left to fight for at January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals. This weekend, eight teams have already booked their place: Mali (Group A),Guinea (Group B), Zambia and Libya (both Group C), Niger (Group G), Ghana (Group I), Angola (Group J) and Tunisia (Group K).Group D is all that is left to decide who will make it through.
