Sport
Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Update: Equatorial Guinea 2 – Senegal 1
Afterward, Zahoui suggested his star players were too accustomed to the pampered atmosphere at their European clubs and need to tough it out when coming to Africa.
“My main desire is to ask the players to be careful, you are not in your clubs any more,” Zahoui said. “When you play in Europe you have referees with a certain way of doing the job, great quality pitches, but here we are in an African environment. We play in the heat with referees who do the best they can, it’s a very particular context. You leave your clubs and all their comforts behind.”
Senegal’s players looked extremely uncomfortable as they toiled against Equatorial Guinea.
None symbolized the team’s struggles more than striker Demba Ba, who has scored 15 goals for Newcastle in the Premier League so far this season but has misfired at the African Cup.
Ba should have given Senegal a nerve-calming lead in the 22nd minute at the Estadio de Bata but miscued his finish wide from penalty-spot distance.
It proved a key moment with Equatorial Guinea buoyed by reaching halftime level, and Iban Iyanga headed his team in front in the 62nd minute.
Nonetheless, Senegal coach Amara Traore refused to question his players’ focus after the loss.
“We prepared very well for this game and we had many opportunities,” he said. “We were just unlucky. I am very happy for my players, they gave everything.”
While Ba will return to his club assured of a coveted profile and big pay checks, Equatorial Guinea’s players are making the most of cup fever.
