A goalless draw against already-qualified Cameroon helped Ivory Coast to secure a spot in the upcoming 2015 African Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Equatorial Guinea.
Ivory Coast needed only one point in their final qualifying game in Abidjan with Cameroon who had already qualified as top of Group D.
The Elephants tried to maintain their qualifying draw score in a very controversial way since the Ivorians literally kept passing the ball around in defense and among themselves as the game drew to a close.
For the final three minutes of the extra time, there were at least 71 passes between Ivorian players in their own half of the pitch while Cameroon showed no desire to intervene.
Ivorian manager Herve Renard was shown leaving the pitch 90 seconds before the final whistle after he knew that his players will just keep passing the ball until the end of the game.
Even the referee got bored with what was going on and decided to draw the curtain on the controversial match 10 seconds early. Then followed the second madness – fan began to invade the pitch in celebration of Ivory Coast’s qualification to the point where security forces where unable to curtail, and brutality follows. See things the pictures.
After securing a spot in the African Cup of Nations, although in a way that has nothing to do with what football spirit is all about, Ivory Coast will join Cameroon, Algeria, Cape Verde Islands, South Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Tunisia, Mali, Congo, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal and new hosts of the 16-team tournament Equatorial Guinea who replaced original host Morocco.
Darlinton Omeh says
Hmm, maybe they don’t deserve to be there, so let’s give it to the deserving ones. Keshi has never been a good manager to me, forget that he won Nations cup – it wasn’t his making nor as a result of his coaching ingenuity. He has been a bully and bad man manager right from when he was a player. He is vindictive and corrupt, he select players base on his own material gain!
Ejinwa Anthony says
it’s pretty sad that nigeria won’t be in Equatorial Guinea come 2015….
Ejinwa Anthony says
yeah congrats to both of them, they did well
ubesie chukwuebuka chidiogo says
that’s the spirit of football, football still remains as one of the events Which connect the world, countries etc, Africans are always out for their countries during football matches, I think is not madness but the SPIRIT OF FOOTBALL. Congratulations to the qualified countries, is a pity that the giant of Africa will be missing in Equatorial Guinea come 2015
Amaechi Ekeh says
Whichever way, the game has been played and the rest are now history. Still African-nizing the whole thing. If it is wrong, then let the appropriate authorities point it out. Kudos to them. I think that is the preferred language for both teams anyway.
Ope Adediran says
That’s why it willmbe so long before an African team wins the world cup
Ejinwa Anthony says
over joy must they worry them ohh see fans just jumping in even with the securities. …lol