Confederation of African Football<\/a> (Giza)<\/p>\n3 December 2011<\/p>\n
\nSenegal and Morocco will know their semi-final opponents by the end of Saturday when Group B is decided by the final matches.<\/p>\n
Egypt takes on South Africa in Marrakech while Gabon and Cote d’ Ivoire clash in Tangier with all four sides still capable of making the semis. Gabon however have the slimmest of chances and will need to win and hope that there is also a winner in the other match but straight victories for Egypt, South Africa and Cote d’ Ivoire will see them through.<\/p>\n
Cote d’Ivoire leads the group on four points, followed by Egypt with three then South Africa with two and Gabon on one point. Cote d’ Ivoire coach Alain Gouamene was cautiously optimistic ahead of the Gabonese clash and made known his preference to top the group and head back to Marrakech for the semi-final. ” Marrakech is now home away from home for us and we want to go back home” quipped Gouamene. “It will be a difficult game against Gabon who are a young side but keen to beat us. I however think we should prevail if we play the kind of football we are capable of” concluded Gouamene.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Gouamene’s opposite number, Claude Albert Mbourounot was concerned about the effects of the changes he will have to bring to his side. The Gabonese coach was worried about the absence of his first choice goalkeeper, Willy Mikiela, whose red card in the previous match rules him out for the Cote d’ Ivoire game. ” Goalkeeper tend to bring their own personalities and unique way of doing things with them and this change will not be easy because of this but we need to find the right defensive combination for the match.” Said Mbouroumot. The Gabonese mentor also lamented the unavailability of another key player, Didier Ndong who is also serving a suspension after picking up two yellow cards in as many matches.<\/p>\n
According to Claude Albert Mbourounot the Ivorians will start out as favorites but his charges will be up for a battle and fight to the very end.<\/p>\n
So Senegal and Morocco will be following the matches keenly eager to find out who they meet in the semi-finals. The semi-finals of the CAF U-23 African Championship will be played on the 6 and 7 December – the top three qualify for the Olympics and the fourth-placed side face a play-off against an Asian side in April.<\/p>\n
AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n
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