THE 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations tournament is heading to a potentially exciting finale today after a stuttering start which fed on the apathy of the local fans. After a low-key opening ceremony and two goalless draws on the first day - and another draw in Group B fixtures the second day, before Mali finally cracked it against Niger later that day - it appeared the tournament was heading for disaster.
The referees also got into the act for all the wrong reasons, deciding outcomes through bizarre decisions. Strangely enough, pre-tournament favourites Ghana and defending champions Zambia were the biggest beneficiaries of refereeing shenanigans. Though some argue CAF is the mastermind behind the questionable decisions, the controlling body to their credit took decisive action. They expelled three referees from the tournament, including South Africa’s Daniel Bennett. Even bigger, the decision by Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi to red-card star Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa was reversed.
Earlier on the tournament was rescued by Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over a strangely weak Angola, and high voltage 4-0 victory by a 10-man Burkina Faso over Ethiopia, changed everything. After this the tournament finally had a home in South Africa, with the action on the pitch also picking up on this mood. The Burkina Faso game against Ethiopia also revealed the star of tournament: Jonathan Pitroipa, the slightly-built forward with the looks of a model.
It was going to be a great shame for the game and the tournament had the final proceeded without Pitroipa, all because of a careless refereeing mistake. The official, Jdidi was supposed to award Pitroipa and his team the penalty after the latter was felled in the box while he was on attack.
Another great shame for the event was the pitch at the Mbombela Stadium. How the tournament was allowed to continue on that dump is curious and downright scandalous. Someone’s head has to roll for the national disgrace. If it’s not the mayor the Mbombela municipality, under whose watch this mess happened, then his immediate boss – the provincial minister for local government – must resign on the mayor’s behalf.
Back to Burkina Faso; what a turnaround of fortune for the small landlocked nation with paltry resources. It has been a curious factor that BF had been a regular feature in the Afcon, since their hosting of the 1998 edition, when they finished fourth. Despite qualifying consistently ever since, the Stallions had been failing to go past the first round. Now, they are not only in the final match but they are dishing out the most exciting show in the 2013 tourney.
This has come as bitter pill to swallow for fancied Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana to see their poor northern neighbour progress with so much aplomb. An added pain to the Ghanaians was to see the beloved Black Stars, hugely assisted by the referee, falling in the wake of hardworking Stallions.
I bet many Ghanaians are going through sleepless nights, thanks to recurring nightmares featuring the spiky blond hair of Aristide Bance! A TV footage a day after Ghana’s defeat showed a woman in Ghana colours weeping openly in the streets, not so much for the pain of losing a football match but for the shock and humiliation of losing to the Burkinabe, the people who have always looked up to them for inspiration and hope.
And what a comeback by Nigeria – the Super Eagles are soaring high where they belong, thanks to Stephen Keshi. Isn’t ironic that Nigeria is on the brink of its first title since 1994, when Keshi himself was the captain? Larger than life Keshi has a way of provoking emotions hanging precariously at the edges: Keshi the stubborn, the brave, the clumsy, the hero. . . no half measures when coming to the “Big Boss”. Whether you love or despise him, Keshi will surge ahead governed by his own rules.
He successfully helped Togo qualify for 2006 Fifa World Cup – the biggest footballing achievement by the tiny west African country. But because still the Togo authorities found easier to fire Keshi , ahead of the world cup, just because he didn’t take Emmanuel Adebayor’s crap. The Togolese realized their error and appointed Keshi again in 2011, but that’s then the Super Eagles also became vacant and Big Boss moved on to where he is today.
He found a messed up camp at the Super Eagles and took risks to make them a well-oiled machine that they are today. Keshi had to take risks – and duck insults – to achieve that. He showed Odemwigie and many other peacocks the door, and rebuilt the Super Eagles from scratch. Nigeria had 17 Afcon debutants this tournbament, including six home-based players. That was never heard of in Nigerian football in almost two decades, and Keshi’s head was on the block.
Win or lose later today the Big Boss is having the last laugh: Nigerians are now singing the praises of Elderson Echiejile, Sunday Mba and Emanuel Emenike. The latter has come a long way since playing in the lower division of South Africa in 2008-09, for Mpumalanga Black Aces and later FC Cape Town. Enjoy a triumphant return to South Africa, Emenike is 2013 Afcon top scorer with four goals. The man from Otuocha, Anambra, is also a strong contender for player of the tournament.
Nigeria or Burkina Faso? I love them both, so let the best team win. And Mr Ref, please step out of the way!
Who's the boss. . . Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi
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