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Afcon 2015

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
It's been a pretty lackluster tournament so far with many draws and less than 2 goals per game on average. No country has really stood out as looking like winning it. Basically the opposite to the Asian Cup.

What makes it interesting however is that one quarter final spot will be decided on essentially potluck.

All Guinea and Mali's group games finished 1-1 so they have perfectly identical records and can't be separated on any on-field related tiebreakers. So something called the "drawing of lots" has to be conducted. The last time this happened in any tournament was 1988.

In effect whichever country has their name pulled out of a top hat first by an African official makes the quarter finals.

What makes it a bit ludicrous is that Guinea and Mali played each other in the last group game so could've had a shootout then and there to decide it. Now they have to wait another day to know of their fate and Ghana has to prepare for two teams rather than one in the quarter finals.
 

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
So Guinea got drawn out of the hat.

The QF are as follows:

Congo v Congo DR
Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea
Ghana v Guinea
Ivory Coast v Algeria

Would not surprise me if the winner of the last quarter ends up winning the whole thing.
 

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
Equatorial Guinea fans went a bit loco pelting bottles and rocks at Ghana fans and players all because they were winning the semi.

Ivory Coast v Ghana is the final. Should be a belter.
 

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
So Ivory Coast finally got the win its Golden Gen has warranted for years.

All in all, a bit of an underwhelming tournament best symbolised by a goalless 3rd playoff and final.

I think the Asian Cup easily beat AFCON on quality, tournament vibe etc. the first ever occasion they've gone directly head to head.
 
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