B. OdhiamboAFCON 2023: Tshabalala hails CAF organization terms tournament best ever
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 24.01.24. | 17:36
More dramatic outcomes are expected as the CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 continues with the last round of group matches to determine the 16 nations that will battle it out in the knockout stages of the competition
Following his wonder strike when Africa hosted its first ever FIFA World Cup back in 2010, South African football icon, Siphiwe Tshabalala successfully engraved his name in the rich history books of African football when he became the first player to score a goal in Africa’s first hosting of the World Cup.
“Shabba” as the dreadlocked legend is affectionately known is among a star-studded list of CAF Legends that are present at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
Speaking to CAFOnline on the sidelines of the ongoing competition in Korhogo where he is based in the same host city as Bafana Bafana, Tshabalala hailed CAF’s organization and the warm reception of the Ivorians in staging what has so far been an exceptional 34th edition of Africa’s biggest event.
“Before coming to Korhogo, I attended the Opening Ceremony which was world-class in all aspects. The organization, the venue, the fans, and of course the football. Coming to the football, the quality of football has been impressive so far. I also have to commend the great officiating of matches and great organization by CAF. This is by far the best AFCON that the world is witnessing”, declared Tshabalala.
The former Bafana Bafana star, who also shone brightly in the colors of South African club, Kaizer Chiefs played in three TotalEnergies CAF AFCON competitions with Bafana Bafana in 2006, 2008 as well as in 2013 when South Africa finished in the quarter-finals as hosts.
Siphiwe Tshabalala scoring the opening goal of the 2010 World Cup.
— Football Videos That Go Hard (@hardfootyvids) September 5, 2022
The first ever World Cup in Africa. Peter Drury on the commentary. That celebration.
Iconic. 🇿🇦🔥 pic.twitter.com/YizZiNA9kJ
“My fondest memory of AFCON is wearing my national team jersey of South Africa representing my country in the biggest tournament in the continent and competing against the best in the continent on three occasions. This is the greatest tournament on the continent and every African footballer’s dream”, he added.
With the competition gradually approaching the exciting knockout stages, Tshabalala also touched on the competition’s evolution and highly competitive nature – predicting that it will be a tournament of upsets.
“It is a very difficult competition for all teams. The standard is world-class. There have been big upsets by the so-called small teams. They rose to the occasion. This will be a tournament of upsets” said Tshabalala.
The former Bafana Bafana’s bold prediction has certainly come to fruition with recent results that saw some of the tournament favorites (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria) not getting the desired results against their less fancied opponents.
More dramatic outcomes are expected as the CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 continues with the last round of group matches to determine the 16 nations that will battle it out in the knockout stages of the competition.
Credit: CAF Online
Wednesday AFCON fixtures
20.00: (7.00) Namibia (3.60) Mali (1.58)
20.00: (3.40) S.Africa (3.10) Tunisia (2.30)
23.00: (6.50) Zambia (3.80) Morocco (1.58)
23.00: (6.00) Tanzania (3.70) Dr Congo (1.62)
AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGE
Round 3
Monday
Ivory Coast - Equatorial Guinea 0-4 (0-1)
/Nsue 45, 57, Ganet 73, Buyla 88/
Nigeria - Guinea Bissau 1-0 (1-0)
/Sangante 36/
Cape Verde - Egypt 2-2 (1-0)
/Benchimol 45+1, Texeira 90+9 - Trezeguet 50, Mohamed 90+3/
Mozambique - Ghana 2-2 (0-1)
/Catamo 90+1 pen, Mandava 90+4 - J Ayew 15 pen, 67 pen/
Tuesday
Guinea 0 Senegal 2
/Seck 61, Ndiaye 90/
Gambia 2 Cameroon 3
/Jallow 72, E. Colley 85 - Toko Ekambi 56, Gomez 87-og, Wooh 90+1/
Mauritania - Algeria 1-0 (1-0)
/Yali 37/
Angola - Burkina Faso 1-0 (1-0)
/Mabululu 36/
