Sport
Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Update: Equatorial Guinea 2 – Senegal 1
Equatorial Guinea’s David Alvarez, right, celebrates scoring the winning goal against Senegal. PHOTO/Ariel Schalit /AP
Senegal’s players looked shell-shocked as they trudged off the field following their 2-1 loss to Equatorial Guinea, some with tears in their eyes.
Senegal’s team, packed with European-based players boasting Champions League experience, were beaten by a group of journeymen footballers, largely unknown even in Equatorial Guinea.
The result on Wednesday eliminated Senegal and earned Equatorial Guinea an unexpected quarterfinal place.
“We have nothing to reproach ourselves for because we gave everything. We just didn’t succeed,” Senegal captain Mamadou Niang said.
Senegal had been warned.
On Tuesday, Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui asked his players to be “very humble” at the African Cup and not be sidetracked by problems, like dressing rooms that are like “microwave ovens.”
“Even the team of Equatorial Guinea that everyone was dismissing has won its opening game,” Zahoui said. “All the big teams of this tournament should expect to suffer.”
Ivory Coast, preparing in Malabo to face Burkina Faso in its second group match, faced a tricky opponent in Sudan in its opener.
Didier Drogba’s first-half header earned a narrow win for Ivory Coast, but the team received criticism for failing to impress against its lowly ranked opponent.
