AFCON2015: How the teams performed

 

How the 16 finalists performed at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea (alphabetical order):

ALGERIA (P4 W2 D0 L2 F6 A5):

The top ranked team in Africa began tournament as reluctant title favourites and deserved to go further than quarter-finals, where they were superior to Ivory Coast but wasted several chances.

BURKINA FASO (P3 W0 D1 L2 F1 A4):

Biggest disappointment of the Cup of Nations having come to central Africa with high hopes after finishing runners-up to Nigeria two years ago. Woeful finishing cost them dearly.

CAMEROON (P3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A3):

Trounced Ivory Coast in qualifiers, but a single-goal loss to the same nation meant a group-stage exit when they would have hoped for at least a last-eight spot. This young team is a work in progress

CAPE VERDE (P3 W0 D3 L0 F1 A1):

Hoped to at least match the 2013 quarter-finals place, but were let down by a blunt strike force that managed just one goal in 270 minutes, and that was from a penalty.

CONGO BRAZZAVILLE (P4 W2 D1 L1 F6 A6):

A young, easy-on-the-eye side exceeded expectations by making last-eight and led the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 before conceding four goals in a spectacular second-half meltdown.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (P6 W1 D4 L1 F7 A7):

Better than expected showing from a team that finished third despite winning only one of six games. Four-goal quarter-final blitz against Congo Brazzaville was a tournament highlight.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (P6 W2 D3 L1 F5 A5):

Another nation that finished higher than forecast, even allowing for home advantage. Had grit, pace on flanks and luck, and held their own until being brutally exposed by Ghana in semi-finals.

GABON (P3 W1 D0 L2 F2 A3):

Would have hoped for at least a quarter-finals place instead of a first-round exit. Captain and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could not rouse side when they were struggling.

GHANA (P6 W4 D1 L1 F10 A3):

After taking a 2-0 lead in the penalty shootout the Black Stars must have believed a 33-year wait for a fifth title was about to end, but failure to convert the next two spot-kicks eventually proved their undoing.

GUINEA (P4 W0 D3 L1 F3 A6)

Held their own in a tough Group D with winger-captain Ibrahima Traore outstanding and won a drawing of lots to pip Mali for knockout place before sloppy defending led to a heavy defeat by Ghana.

IVORY COAST (P6 W3 D3 L0 F9 A4)

Finally threw off the ‘chokers’ tag having lost the 2006 and 2012 finals in shootouts as Frenchman Herve Renard became the first coach to win the Cup of Nations with two countries.

MALI (P3 W0 D3 L0 F3 A3)

Unlucky first-round departees as a weakly-struck penalty by talisman Seydou Keita was saved against Guinea and they had to settle for a draw when a win would have guaranteed progress.

SENEGAL (P3 W1 D1 L1 F3 A4):

Arrived in Equatorial Guinea as joint bookmakers’ favourites with Ivory Coast and began with a last-gasp win over Ghana, but a draw and a loss followed and they were heading home after first round.

SOUTH AFRICA (P3 W0 D1 L2 F3 A6):

Bad finishing and some goalkeeping howlers meant an early exit for a South African side that may have been lulled into a false sense of superiority by impressive warm-up results.

TUNISIA (P4 W1 D2 L1 F5 A5):

A well-organised outfit deprived of a semi-finals spot by a dubiously-awarded stoppage-time penalty for Equatorial Guinea. However, they contributed to downfall by losing discipline during extra-time.

ZAMBIA (P3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A3):

Nothing has gone right for Zambia since shock triumph in 2012 with three draws in defence of the title a year later and an even poorer showing in Equatorial Guinea. Rebuilding time has arrived.

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