African Nations 2012 Match Report: Ivory Coast 1 - Sudan 0
After another of the favourites succumbed to a surprise victory last night when Zambia beat Senegal, the Ivory Coast would have been looking for a victory at any cost this afternoon to not only pick up 3 important points, but also to offer a statement of intent, and they did so thanks to talismanic striker Didier Drogba who scored despite a very strong defensive performance from Sudan. As with most African Nations tournaments, all of the pre-game talk was about the Ivorians' strength, with the Toure brothers, Gervinho, Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Cheick Tiote all among the top players on show in the competition, but this opening fixture against a team without the same kind of star power, and not a single European based player among their ranks was far from a walk-over. My preview of the tournament mentioned Sudan's likely team spirit and unity, based on a familiarity in the squad that can only come from most of the players coming from only two clubs - Al-Hilal Omdurman and Al-Merreikh in Sudan - and the team proved my prediction to have been correct. In the face of Ivorian strength, the Sudanese defied expectations, pushing for the ball at every opportunity and refusing their opponents the luxury of time on the ball, and cutting out their attempts to link up midfield and attack. The game started tentatively, with the sides sizing one another up and the Elephants looking to stamp their authority early on, but finding few spoils in the face of the determined and disciplined Sudanese defensive set-up. And such was the tale of the first forty minutes - a handful of half chances for the Ivorians going begging, or cut out all too easily by the Sudan defence, before Didier Drogba finally broke the deadlock, rising to meet a great cross from club team-mate Salomon Kalou on the 41st minute mark. And it could have been all square a mere matter of moments later, as Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacarr brilliantly turning a fierce shot from Moutata onto the bar and away to safety. But it was not to be, and half-time came with the favourites still sitting on their one goal advantage. You could have been forgiven for expecting Sudan to simply continue to sit back, hoping to keep the score down, but that chance at the end of the first half gave them the scent of an upset and they started the second half with far more attacking purpose, with two good opportunities in the first seven minutes of the half, including one excellent opportunity that Eldin saw saved by Boubacarr. The Ivorians counter-punched with chances of their own, with Drogba, Yaya Toure and Gervinho (twice) missing chances to extend the lead and put the game to bed, but all-in-all it was a frustrated performance from the tipped champions elect, showing few signs that the team have the spark to break down teams like Sudan who are willing to sit back and soak up attacks. They missed a creative midfielder, despite the presence of Yaya Toure, and you get the feeling either Max Gradel or Abdul Kader Keita might feature more in coming games. So a victory for the powerhouse Ivory Coast, but by no means a convincing one. And if it weren't for the lack of points, you suspect it might be the Sudanese who will emerge the happiest. Onwards and upwards for them perhaps?