2015 Africa Cup of Nations

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2015 Africa Cup of Nations
Copa Africana de Naciones 2015
Campeonato Africano das Nações de 2015
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2015
AFCON 2015
CAN 2015
Tournament details
Host countryEquatorial Guinea
Dates17 January – 8 February
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Ivory Coast (2nd title)
Runners-up Ghana
Third place DR Congo
Fourth place Equatorial Guinea
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored68 (2.13 per match)
Attendance617,374 (19,293 per match)
Top scorer(s)Tunisia Ahmed Akaïchi
Ghana André Ayew
Equatorial Guinea Javier Balboa
Republic of the Congo Thievy Bifouma
Democratic Republic of the Congo Dieumerci Mbokani
(3 goals each)
Best player(s)Ghana Christian Atsu
Best goalkeeperIvory Coast Sylvain Gbohouo
Fair play award DR Congo
← 2013
2017 →
  Champion
  Runner-up
  Third place
  Fourth place
  Quarter-finals
  Group stage

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015 for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th staging of the Africa Cup of Nations, the international men’s football championship of Africa. It was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was held from 17 January to 8 February 2015.[1][2]

The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Morocco who later demanded postponement of the event because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa;[3] subsequently Morocco was ruled out as a host country and replaced by Equatorial Guinea.[4]

The Ivory Coast won the tournament for their second Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating Ghana 9–8 in a penalty shoot-out after the final finished goalless following extra time. The DR Congo came third and the hosts Equatorial Guinea fourth, while defending champions Nigeria did not qualify.

Host selection

Bids:

Bidder Last hosted
Botswana[5] -
Cameroon[6] 1972
DR Congo[7] -
Guinea[8] -
Morocco[9] 1988
South Africa[10] 1996[11]
Zambia[12] -
Zimbabwe[13] -

CAF received 3 bids before 30 September 2010, the deadline, to host either the 2015 or 2017 Africa Cup of Nations from DR Congo, Morocco and South Africa. All three bids were originally put on a shortlist.[14] CAF then began an inspection procedure, on November and December 2010, intending to visit each bidding country to view stadiums, infrastructure, and football interest. They inspected the DR Congo first.[15] Shortly after the inspection, DR Congo informed CAF that they would be withdrawing their bids for both the 2015 and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.[16] Morocco was the next country to be inspected, with CAF visiting the country in early November 2010.[17] South Africa was inspected in December 2010.

Nation Last hosted
Morocco 1988
South Africa 1996[11]

On 29 January, during the 2011 CAF Super Cup, the CAF Board decided that Morocco would host the 2015 African Cup of Nations, while the 2017 edition would be held in South Africa.[18] The four Morocco host cities which were scheduled to host the tournament were Rabat, Marrakesh, Agadir and Tangier, as announced by the CAF Executive Committee on 23 September 2013.[19] Casablanca would serve as an alternative venue.[20]

Moroccan withdrawal

In October 2014, the government of Morocco requested a postponement of the tournament due to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.[21] After the matter was discussed at the Executive Committee meeting on 2 November 2014, CAF decided to keep the date of the tournament, while also asking for a clarification from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation of whether they still wish to host the tournament.[22] On 8 November, Morocco failed to meet this deadline to confirm it would host the tournament.[23] Three days later CAF confirmed that Morocco would not host the tournament and a new host would be chosen from a list of countries which have expressed interest. Morocco, who had previously qualified as hosts, were disqualified from participation at the tournament.[3][24] CAF confirmed legal action against Morocco due to a contract signed in April 2014.[25] Moroccan Sports Minister Mohamed Ouzzine said that CAF had falsely accused his country of "refusing" to host the tournament when it wanted it postponed, and justified the decision by citing that the World Health Organization gives every country the right to protect its citizens.[25] On 6 February 2015, CAF announced that Morocco had been banned from the next two AFCON tournaments, fined 1 million US dollars, as well as demanding 9 million US dollars in compensation.[26][27] However, the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning Morocco may enter the tournaments.[28]

Egypt, Ghana, South Africa and Sudan all declined to take over as hosts.[29] Angola, the hosts of the 2010 edition, were spoken of as a potential replacement due to existing stadia and infrastructure in the country. However, a member of the Angolan Football Federation stated that it could not be possible as the new government budget did not include any tournaments.[25]

On 14 November 2014, CAF announced that Equatorial Guinea would host the tournament.[4]

Qualification

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
  Qualified
  Failed to qualify
  Withdrew, disqualified or did not enter
  Not part of CAF

Qualification for the tournament were made up of four stages, three preliminary rounds and a final group stage. The 21 best-ranked teams were given a bye to the group stage, while the next 26 teams began play in the second preliminary round, and four lowest ranked teams started at the first round. The three preliminary rounds were a series of playoffs, with the winners advancing.

51 nations entered the tournament (excluding initial hosts Morocco). It was the competitive debut of South Sudan. Djibouti and Somalia declined to enter.

Morocco would have automatically qualified as hosts; however, after their refusal to host, they were expelled from the tournament by the CAF.[3][24] Equatorial Guinea was chosen as the new host, and despite having played in the qualifiers and been disqualified due to fielding an ineligible player, they qualified for the tournament automatically.[4]

The defending champions Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament.[30]

Qualified teams

The following sixteen teams qualified for the tournament.

Country Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearance in tournament1–2
 Equatorial Guinea Hosts 14 November 2014 1 (2012)
 South Africa Group A winners 15 November 2014 8 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013)
 Congo Group A runners-up 19 November 2014 6 (1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1992, 2000)
 Algeria Group B winners 15 October 2014 15 (1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013)
 Mali Group B runners-up 19 November 2014 8 (1972, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Gabon Group C winners 15 November 2014 5 (1994, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2012)
 Burkina Faso Group C runners-up 15 November 2014 9 (1978, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Cameroon Group D winners 15 November 2014 16 (1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)
 Ivory Coast Group D runners-up 19 November 2014 20 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Ghana Group E winners 19 November 2014 19 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Guinea Group E runners-up 19 November 2014 10 (1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012)
 Cape Verde Group F winners 15 October 2014 1 (2013)
 Zambia Group F runners-up 15 November 2014 16 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Tunisia Group G winners 14 November 2014 16 (1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
 Senegal Group G runners-up 15 November 2014 12 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012)
 DR Congo Best third placed team 19 November 2014 16 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year.
2 Italic indicates host for that year.

Venues

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Download coordinates as:

The four Equatorial Guinean cities selected to host the tournament were Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebebiyín.[31]

Malabo and Bata were also host venues for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Screening for Ebola was given to all spectators attending matches.[32]

Bata Malabo
2015 Africa Cup of Nations is located in Equatorial Guinea
Mongomo
Mongomo
Bata
Bata
Malabo
Malabo
Ebebiyín
Ebebiyín
 Mongomo Ebebiyín
Estadio de Bata Nuevo Estadio de Malabo Estadio de Mongomo Estadio Mannuel Enguru
Capacity: 41,000 Capacity: 15,250 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 8,000

Format

Only the hosts got an automatic qualification spot, the other 15 teams qualified through qualification tournament. At the finals, the 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four teams each. The teams in each group played a single round robin. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners advanced to the semifinals. The semifinal losers played in the third place match, while the semifinal winners played in the final.[33]

Draw

The finals draw was held on 3 December 2014 in Malabo.[31][34] It was initially to be held on 26 November 2014 in Rabat before the change of host country.[1][35]

The 16 teams were divided into four pots based on the CAF Ranking, with the hosts Equatorial Guinea placed in Pot 1 automatically.[36] The ranking was computed using the teams' results in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (weighted by 2), 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 3) and qualifiers (weighted by 1), the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 2) and qualifiers (weighted by 0.5), the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 1), and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[37]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

 Equatorial Guinea (host; assigned to A1)
 Ghana (48 pts)
 Ivory Coast (44 pts)
 Zambia (41 pts)

 Burkina Faso (40 pts)
 Mali (38 pts)
 Tunisia (32.5 pts)
 Algeria (28 pts)

 Cape Verde (26.5 pts)
 South Africa (23.5 pts)
 Cameroon (23.5 pts)
 Gabon (22 pts)

 Guinea (19 pts)
 Senegal (19 pts)
 DR Congo (18 pts)
 Congo (13 pts)

Match officials

The following referees were chosen for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Referees
Assistant referees

Squads

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squads

Each team could register a squad of 23 players.[33]

Group stage

The group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

Tiebreakers

The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[33]

  1. Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
  3. Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
  4. If, after applying criteria 1 to 3 to teams concerned, two or three teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between these teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 7 will apply;
  5. Goal difference in all games;
  6. Goals scored in all games;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Congo 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Equatorial Guinea (H) 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 5
3  Gabon 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3
4  Burkina Faso 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: CAF
(H) Hosts
Equatorial Guinea 1–1 Congo
Nsue 16' Report Bifouma 87'
Attendance: 40,245
Burkina Faso 0–2 Gabon
Report Aubameyang 19'
Evouna 72'
Attendance: 40,245
Equatorial Guinea 0–0 Burkina Faso
Report
Attendance: 39,867
Gabon 0–1 Congo
Report Oniangué 48'
Attendance: 34,782
Gabon 0–2 Equatorial Guinea
Report Balboa 55' (pen.)
Ibán 85'
Attendance: 39,230
Congo 2–1 Burkina Faso
Bifouma 51'
Ondama 87'		 Report Bancé 86'
Attendance: 7,945
17 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea  1–1  Congo Estadio de Bata, Bata
Burkina Faso  0–2  Gabon Estadio de Bata, Bata
21 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea  0–0  Burkina Faso Estadio de Bata, Bata
Gabon  0–1  Congo Estadio de Bata, Bata
25 January 2015
Gabon  0–2  Equatorial Guinea Estadio de Bata, Bata
Congo  2–1  Burkina Faso Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín

Group B

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Tunisia 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  DR Congo 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
3  Cape Verde 3 0 3 0 1 1 0 3
4  Zambia 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Zambia 1–1 DR Congo
Singuluma 2' Report Bolasie 66'
Attendance: 7,319
Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)
Tunisia 1–1 Cape Verde
Manser 70' Report Héldon 78' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,479
Zambia 1–2 Tunisia
Mayuka 60' Report Akaïchi 70'
Chikhaoui 89'
Attendance: 8,000
Cape Verde 0–0 DR Congo
Report
Attendance: 7,680
Cape Verde 0–0 Zambia
Report
Attendance: 7,950
DR Congo 1–1 Tunisia
Bokila 66' Report Akaïchi 31'
Attendance: 11,463
18 January 2015
Zambia  1–1  DR Congo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
Tunisia  1–1  Cape Verde Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
22 January 2015
Zambia  1–2  Tunisia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
Cape Verde  0–0  DR Congo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
26 January 2015
Cape Verde  0–0  Zambia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
DR Congo  1–1  Tunisia Estadio de Bata, Bata

Group C

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group C

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ghana 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Algeria 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
3  Senegal 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4
4  South Africa 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Ghana 1–2 Senegal
A. Ayew 14' (pen.) Report Diouf 58'
Sow 90+3'
Attendance: 13,569
Algeria 3–1 South Africa
Hlatshwayo 67' (o.g.)
Ghoulam 72'
Slimani 83'		 Report Phala 51'
Attendance: 12,788
Ghana 1–0 Algeria
Gyan 90+2' Report
Attendance: 12,387
South Africa 1–1 Senegal
Manyisa 47' Report Mbodj 60'
Attendance: 13,674
South Africa 1–2 Ghana
Masango 17' Report Boye 73'
A. Ayew 83'
Attendance: 13,670
Senegal 0–2 Algeria
Report Mahrez 11'
Bentaleb 82'
Attendance: 14,549
19 January 2015
Ghana  1–2  Senegal Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
Algeria  3–1  South Africa Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
23 January 2015
Ghana  1–0  Algeria Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
South Africa  1–1  Senegal Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
27 January 2015
South Africa  1–2  Ghana Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
Senegal  0–2  Algeria Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo

Group D

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group D

Guinea and Mali finished level on the second spot after the group stage, making the first drawing of lots needed at the tournament since 1988. Unlike some other international tournaments, 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament regulations would not use fair-play criteria or a penalty shoot-out after the teams met on the last match day to determine the final group ranking. Both head coaches have openly criticised the regulations.[38]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ivory Coast 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Guinea 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3[a]
3  Mali 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3[a]
4  Cameroon 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
Source: CAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Guinea and Mali were tied on head-to-head record, overall goal difference, and overall goals scored. A drawing of lots took place on 29 January 2015, 16:00 local time at the Hilton Malabo. Guinea selected the lot for 2nd place and advanced to the quarter-finals as the group runner-up.[39][40][41]
Ivory Coast 1–1 Guinea
Doumbia 72' Report M. Yattara 36'
Attendance: 14,875
Mali 1–1 Cameroon
S. Yatabaré 71' Report Oyongo 84'
Attendance: 15,000
Ivory Coast 1–1 Mali
Gradel 86' Report Sako 7'
Attendance: 14,890
Cameroon 1–1 Guinea
Moukandjo 13' Report Traoré 42'
Attendance: 15,000
Cameroon 0–1 Ivory Coast
Report Gradel 35'
Attendance: 15,230
Guinea 1–1 Mali
Constant 15' (pen.) Report Maïga 47'
Attendance: 13,470
20 January 2015
Ivory Coast  1–1  Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Mali  1–1  Cameroon Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
24 January 2015
Ivory Coast  1–1  Mali Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Cameroon  1–1  Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
28 January 2015
Cameroon  0–1  Ivory Coast Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Guinea  1–1  Mali Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo

Knockout stage

Match Ghana vs Guinea
2015 Africa Cup of Nations Champions Ivory Coast
Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

In the knockout stages, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner, except for the play-off for third place where no extra time shall be played.[33]

On 27 January 2015, the CAF announced that they had relocated the venues of two of the quarter-finals:[42]

The kick-off time of quarter-finals 2 and 4 are also changed from 20:00 to 20:30 local time. The knockout stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 31 January with the round of 16 and ended on 8 February 2015 with the final held at the Estadio de Bata in Bata. A total of 8 teams (the top two teams from each group) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.

All match times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

Format

In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the scores remained level after 90 minutes the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.

Qualified teams

The top two placed teams from each of the four groups advanced to the knockout stage.

Group Winners Runners-up
A  Congo  Equatorial Guinea
B  Tunisia  DR Congo
C  Ghana  Algeria
D  Ivory Coast  Guinea

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
31 January – Bata
 
 
 Congo2
 
4 February – Bata
 
 DR Congo4
 
 DR Congo1
 
1 February – Malabo
 
 Ivory Coast3
 
 Ivory Coast3
 
8 February – Bata
 
 Algeria1
 
 Ivory Coast (p)0 (9)
 
1 February – Malabo
 
 Ghana 0 (8)
 
 Ghana3
 
5 February – Malabo
 
 Guinea0
 
 Ghana3
 
31 January – Bata
 
 Equatorial Guinea0 Third place play-off
 
 Tunisia1
 
7 February – Malabo
 
 Equatorial Guinea (a.e.t.) 2
 
 DR Congo (p)0 (4)
 
 
 Equatorial Guinea0 (2)
 

All times local, WAT (UTC+1).

Quarter-finals

Congo vs DR Congo

Congo took the lead in the 55th minute, when Férébory Doré met Delvin N'Dinga's free kick to slot home. They increased the lead seven minutes later, when after they intercepted a DR Congo pass out of the defence, Thievy Bifouma scored from the rebound after Doré's shot was saved. DR Congo pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, when Dieumerci Mbokani converted from Yannick Bolasie's cross. The equalizer came ten minutes later when Jeremy Bokila scored from Cédric Makiadi's pass. DR Congo took the lead when Joël Kimwaki headed in Neeskens Kebano's free kick in the 81st minute, and completed the comeback after Mbokani converted his own rebound to score his second goal of the match in the first minute of injury time. This put them in the semi-finals for the first time since 1998.[43][44]

Congo 2–4 DR Congo
Doré 55'
Bifouma 62'		 Report Mbokani 65', 90+1'
Bokila 75'
Kimwaki 81'
Attendance: 31,670
Congo
DR Congo
GK 1 Christoffer Mafoumbi
RB 18 Marvin Baudry
CB 21 Sagesse Babélé
CB 4 Boris Moubhibo
LB 6 Dimitri Bissiki
DM 8 Delvin N'Dinga Yellow card 83'
RW 12 Francis Litsingi downward-facing red arrow 84'
AM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)
LW 5 Bouka Moutou downward-facing red arrow 84'
CF 13 Thievy Bifouma
CF 10 Férébory Doré downward-facing red arrow 76'
Substitutions:
FW 19 Dominique Malonga upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 14 Césaire Gandzé upward-facing green arrow 84'
FW 11 Fabrice Ondama upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
France Claude Le Roy
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 17 Cédric Mongongu
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani downward-facing red arrow 50'
LB 3 Jean Kasusula
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi Yellow card 40' downward-facing red arrow 89'
RW 19 Jeremy Bokila
AM 18 Cedrick Mabwati downward-facing red arrow 66'
LW 11 Yannick Bolasie
CF 9 Dieumerci Mbokani
Substitutions:
DF 15 Joël Kimwaki upward-facing green arrow 50'
MF 10 Neeskens Kebano upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 5 Nelson Munganga upward-facing green arrow 89'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé

Man of the Match:
Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)[45]

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
El Hadji Malick Samba (Senegal)
Fourth official:
Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea

Tunisia took the lead in the 70th minute, when Ahmed Akaïchi flicked in Hamza Mathlouthi's cross from the right. Equatorial Guinea scored the equalizer in the third minute of injury time through Javier Balboa's penalty, which was awarded after Hamza Mathlouthi was ruled to have fouled Iván Bolado. The match went to extra time, and Balboa scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute with a direct free kick, sending the hosts to their first ever semi-finals.[46][47] The match had witnessed controversies regarding the Mauritian referee's bias refereeing in favor to the host nation, including the controversial penalty in the final minutes, resulting with Tunisian players attacking him in the end of the game. CAF decided to ban the referee for life as for the result.[48]

Tunisia 1–2 (a.e.t.) Equatorial Guinea
Akaïchi 70' Report Balboa 90+3' (pen.), 102'
Attendance: 41,000
Tunisia
Equatorial Guinea
GK 16 Aymen Mathlouthi
RB 17 Hamza Mathlouthi
CB 3 Aymen Abdennour
CB 2 Syam Ben Youssef
LB 12 Ali Maâloul
CM 20 Mohamed Ali Yacoubi Yellow card 63' downward-facing red arrow 104'
CM 6 Hocine Ragued Yellow card 9'
RW 19 Ahmed Akaïchi Yellow card 66' downward-facing red arrow 85'
AM 13 Ferjani Sassi Yellow card 90+6'
LW 9 Yassine Chikhaoui (c)
CF 18 Wahbi Khazri downward-facing red arrow 85'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Mohamed Ali Manser upward-facing green arrow 85'
FW 11 Amine Chermiti Yellow card 86' upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 7 Youssef Msakni upward-facing green arrow 104'
Manager:
Belgium Georges Leekens
GK 1 Felipe Ovono
RB 8 Randy downward-facing red arrow 80'
CB 5 Diosdado Mbele
CB 4 Rui
LB 16 Sipo downward-facing red arrow 86'
RM 14 Kike
CM 18 Viera Ellong
CM 21 Iván Zarandona
LM 11 Javier Balboa
CF 10 Emilio Nsue (c)
CF 9 Raúl Fabiani downward-facing red arrow 61'
Substitutions:
FW 15 Ibán Yellow card 90+6' upward-facing green arrow 61'
FW 12 Iván Bolado upward-facing green arrow 80'
MF 7 Rubén Belima upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Argentina Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Javier Balboa (Equatorial Guinea)[49]

Assistant referees:
Peter Edibe (Nigeria)
Jerson dos Santos (Angola)
Fourth official:
Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

Ghana vs Guinea

Ghana took the lead in the 4th minute, after André Ayew back-heeled the ball for Christian Atsu to convert from close range. Ghana increased the lead in the 44th minute, as Kwesi Appiah intercepted a missed pass from the Guinea defence to score. Atsu scored his second goal of the match in the 61st minute, when he received the ball from Mubarak Wakaso on the right flank, cut inside and curled the ball into the net. Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara was sent off in the fourth minute of injury time for bringing down Asamoah Gyan outside the penalty box. Ghana's win sent them to the semi-finals for the fifth consecutive tournament.[50][51]

Ghana 3–0 Guinea
Atsu 4', 61'
Appiah 44'		 Report
Attendance: 14,500
Ghana
Guinea
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
DM 6 Afriyie Acquah downward-facing red arrow 86'
RW 7 Christian Atsu downward-facing red arrow 79'
AM 11 Mubarak Wakaso
LW 10 André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)
CF 2 Kwesi Appiah
Substitutions:
MF 22 Frank Acheampong upward-facing green arrow 79'
MF 13 Mohammed Rabiu upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Israel Avram Grant
GK 1 Naby Yattara Yellow card 33' Red card 90+4'
RB 13 Abdoulaye Cissé
CB 20 Baissama Sankoh
CB 5 Fodé Camara Yellow card 49'
LB 23 Djibril Tamsir Paye Yellow card 90'
DM 17 Boubacar Fofana Yellow card 70'
CM 12 Ibrahima Conté
CM 10 Kévin Constant Yellow card 21' downward-facing red arrow 56'
RW 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c)
LW 7 Abdoul Camara downward-facing red arrow 81'
CF 11 Idrissa Sylla downward-facing red arrow 45'
Substitutions:
FW 2 Mohamed Yattara upward-facing green arrow 45'
MF 15 Naby Keïta upward-facing green arrow 56'
FW 19 François Kamano upward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:
France Michel Dussuyer

Man of the Match:
Kwesi Appiah (Ghana)[52]

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
Fourth official:
Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar)

Ivory Coast vs Algeria

Ivory Coast took the lead in the 26th minute, when Wilfried Bony headed in Max Gradel's cross. Algeria equalized in the 51st minute, after Riyad Mahrez passed to Hillal Soudani to score. Bony scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute with another header, this time from Yaya Touré's free kick. Ivory Coast sealed the win in the fourth minute of injury time, as Tallo Gadji set up Gervinho in a fast break, and they qualified for the semi-finals for the fourth time in six tournaments.[53][54]

Ivory Coast 3–1 Algeria
Bony 26', 68'
Gervinho 90+4'		 Report Soudani 51'
Attendance: 15,000
Ivory Coast
Algeria
GK 16 Sylvain Gbohouo
CB 17 Serge Aurier
CB 22 Wilfried Kanon
CB 4 Kolo Touré
RWB 21 Eric Bailly
LWB 5 Siaka Tiéné downward-facing red arrow 67'
CM 20 Serey Dié
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c)
CM 15 Max Gradel
CF 12 Wilfried Bony downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
CF 10 Gervinho
Substitutions:
MF 6 Cheick Doukouré upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 11 Tallo Gadji upward-facing green arrow 90+1'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard
GK 23 Raïs M'Bolhi
RB 3 Faouzi Ghoulam
CB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)
CB 20 Aïssa Mandi
LB 12 Carl Medjani
DM 14 Nabil Bentaleb Yellow card 78'
RM 19 Saphir Taïder Yellow card 90'
LM 11 Yacine Brahimi
AM 10 Sofiane Feghouli
CF 7 Riyad Mahrez downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 15 Hillal Soudani downward-facing red arrow 72'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Ishak Belfodil upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 13 Islam Slimani upward-facing green arrow 72'
Manager:
France Christian Gourcuff

Man of the Match:
Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast)[55]

Assistant referees:
Jean-Claude Birumushasu (Burundi)
Aboubacar Doumbouya (Guinea)
Fourth official:
Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)

Semi-finals

DR Congo vs Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast took the lead in the 20th minute, when Yaya Touré slammed home a pass from Wilfried Bony. DR Congo equalized four minutes later through Dieumerci Mbokani's penalty, awarded for Eric Bailly's handball. Ivory Coast retook the lead in the 41st minute, as Bony set up Gervinho to score. Wilfried Kanon sealed the win in the 68th minute, as he scored from the rebound after Serge Aurier's header was saved. The win put the Ivorians into their fourth Africa Cup of Nations final.[56][57]

DR Congo 1–3 Ivory Coast
Mbokani 24' (pen.) Report Y. Touré 20'
Gervinho 41'
Kanon 68'
Attendance: 30,000
DR Congo
Ivory Coast
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 15 Joël Kimwaki
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani
LB 3 Jean Kasusula Yellow card 67'
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi downward-facing red arrow 79'
RW 19 Jeremy Bokila
AM 18 Cedrick Mabwati downward-facing red arrow 69'
LW 11 Yannick Bolasie
CF 9 Dieumerci Mbokani downward-facing red arrow 61'
Substitutions:
FW 13 Junior Kabananga Yellow card 71' upward-facing green arrow 61'
MF 10 Neeskens Kebano upward-facing green arrow 69'
FW 21 Firmin Ndombe Mubele upward-facing green arrow 79'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé
GK 16 Sylvain Gbohouo
RB 17 Serge Aurier Yellow card 76'
CB 21 Eric Bailly
CB 4 Kolo Touré
LB 22 Wilfried Kanon Yellow card 26'
CM 20 Serey Dié Yellow card 70'
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c) Yellow card 28'
RW 15 Max Gradel downward-facing red arrow 62'
LW 5 Siaka Tiéné downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 12 Wilfried Bony downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
CF 10 Gervinho
Substitutions:
FW 8 Salomon Kalou upward-facing green arrow 62'
DF 2 Ousmane Viera upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 18 Lacina Traoré upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard

Man of the Match:
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)[58]

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)
Fourth official:
Bernard Camille (Seychelles)

Ghana vs Equatorial Guinea

Ghana took the lead in the 42nd minute through Jordan Ayew's penalty, awarded after Kwesi Appiah was fouled by Felipe Ovono. In the first minute of first half injury time, Mubarak Wakaso finished Christian Atsu's pass in a counter-attack to double Ghana's lead. Ghana's third goal was scored by André Ayew from a cross by Appiah in the 75th minute. The win put the Ghanaians into a record ninth Africa Cup of Nations final.[59][60]

Crowd disturbances began after Ghana's first goal, culminating after the third in a 40-minute stoppage while security forces corralled the Ghanaian section from the rest of the crowd.[61] The hosts were fined US$100,000 by the CAF.[62]

Ghana 3–0 Equatorial Guinea
J. Ayew 42' (pen.)
Wakaso 45+1'
A. Ayew 75'		 Report
Attendance: 15,250
Ghana
Equatorial Guinea
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful Yellow card 44'
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
CM 6 Afriyie Acquah Yellow card 68'
CM 11 Mubarak Wakaso Yellow card 18' downward-facing red arrow 76'
RW 7 Christian Atsu
AM 9 Jordan Ayew
LW 10 André Ayew (c) Yellow card 66' downward-facing red arrow 82'
CF 2 Kwesi Appiah
Substitutions:
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 22 Frank Acheampong upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Israel Avram Grant
GK 1 Felipe Ovono Yellow card 41'
RB 2 Dani Evuy Yellow card 37' downward-facing red arrow 58'
CB 5 Diosdado Mbele
CB 4 Rui
LB 7 Rubén Belima
CM 21 Iván Zarandona downward-facing red arrow 82'
CM 18 Viera Ellong
RW 14 Kike
LW 11 Javier Balboa
CF 15 Ibán Yellow card 68' downward-facing red arrow 74'
CF 10 Emilio Nsue (c)
Substitutions:
FW 9 Raúl Fabiani upward-facing green arrow 58'
DF 16 Sipo upward-facing green arrow 74'
DF 22 Pablo Ganet upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Argentina Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Christian Atsu (Ghana)[63]

Assistant referees:
Albdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)
Fourth official:
Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)

Third place play-off

After a goalless 90 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time was played as per regulations). Equatorial Guinea missed their first and second penalties by Javier Balboa and Raúl Fabiani, while DR Congo converted all four of their kicks, giving them their best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations since 1998 when they also finished third, while the fourth-placed finish for the hosts were still their best ever in the Africa Cup of Nations.[64][65]

DR Congo 0–0 Equatorial Guinea
Report
Penalties
Mabwati soccer ball with check mark
Mabidi soccer ball with check mark
Mbemba soccer ball with check mark
Mongongu soccer ball with check mark		 4–2 soccer ball with red X Balboa
soccer ball with red X Fabiani
soccer ball with check mark Juvenal
soccer ball with check mark Ellong
Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)
DR Congo
Equatorial Guinea
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 17 Cédric Mongongu
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani
LB 3 Jean Kasusula
RM 18 Cedrick Mabwati Yellow card 87'
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi Yellow card 51' downward-facing red arrow 72'
LM 11 Yannick Bolasie
AM 8 Hervé Kage downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 19 Jeremy Bokila downward-facing red arrow 74'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Dieumerci Mbokani upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 20 Lema Mabidi upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 13 Junior Kabananga upward-facing green arrow 74'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé
GK 1 Felipe Ovono
RB 8 Randy
CB 2 Dani Evuy
CB 4 Rui
LB 16 Sipo
RM 14 Kike downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 21 Iván Zarandona downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 6 Juvenal (c)
LM 7 Rubén Belima downward-facing red arrow 85'
CF 10 Emilio Nsue
CF 11 Javier Balboa
Substitutions:
DF 20 Miguel Ángel upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 18 Viera Ellong upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 9 Raúl Fabiani upward-facing green arrow 85'
Manager:
Argentina Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo)[66]

Assistant referees:
Peter Edibe (Nigeria)
Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi)
Fourth official:
Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

Final

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final

After a goalless 120 minutes (regulation and extra time), the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Ivory Coast missed their first and second penalties by Wilfried Bony and Tallo Gadji, while Ghana missed their third and fourth penalties by Afriyie Acquah and Frank Acheampong. Both teams converted their kicks in the fifth to tenth rounds, and in the eleventh round, Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved from his counterpart Brimah Razak, diving to his left to push the ball around the post. He then scored his own penalty shooting to the right of the net. Ivory Coast won their second title and their first since 1992, where they also defeated Ghana in the final after a penalty shoot-out, while Ghana lost their third straight Africa Cup of Nations final after their last triumph in 1982.[67][68]

Details

Ivory Coast 0–0 (a.e.t.) Ghana
Report
Penalties
Bony soccer ball with red X
Gadji soccer ball with red X
Aurier soccer ball with check mark
Doumbia soccer ball with check mark
Y. Touré soccer ball with check mark
Kalou soccer ball with check mark
K. Touré soccer ball with check mark
Kanon soccer ball with check mark
Bailly soccer ball with check mark
Dié soccer ball with check mark
Barry soccer ball with check mark		 9–8 soccer ball with check mark Wakaso
soccer ball with check mark J. Ayew
soccer ball with red X Acquah
soccer ball with red X Acheampong
soccer ball with check mark A. Ayew
soccer ball with check mark Mensah
soccer ball with check mark Badu
soccer ball with check mark Afful
soccer ball with check mark Rahman
soccer ball with check mark Boye
soccer ball with red X Razak
Attendance: 32,857
Ivory Coast
Ghana
GK 1 Boubacar Barry
CB 21 Eric Bailly Yellow card 105+1'
CB 4 Kolo Touré
CB 22 Wilfried Kanon Yellow card 87'
RM 17 Serge Aurier
CM 20 Serey Dié Yellow card 14'
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c)
LM 5 Siaka Tiéné Yellow card 57' downward-facing red arrow 116'
RF 15 Max Gradel downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 12 Wilfried Bony
LF 10 Gervinho downward-facing red arrow 120+2'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Seydou Doumbia upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 8 Salomon Kalou upward-facing green arrow 116'
FW 11 Tallo Gadji upward-facing green arrow 120+2'
Manager:
France Hervé Renard
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
CM 11 Mubarak Wakaso
CM 6 Afriyie Acquah
RW 7 Christian Atsu downward-facing red arrow 116'
AM 2 Kwesi Appiah downward-facing red arrow 99'
LW 10 André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c) downward-facing red arrow 120+1'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Jordan Ayew upward-facing green arrow 99'
FW 22 Frank Acheampong upward-facing green arrow 116'
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu upward-facing green arrow 120+1'
Manager:
Israel Avram Grant

Man of the Match:
Afriyie Acquah (Ghana)[69]

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
Fourth official:
Jacob Bolam (Zambia)

References

  1. ^ a b "Final tournament to run from 17th January to 8th February; semi-finals separated". cafonline.com. 26 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Press Release following CAF EXCO May 2013 meetings". cafonline.com. 16 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "CAF acknowledges Morocco's refusal to host ORANGE AFCON 2015 from January 17 to February 8". CAF. 11 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014.
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  11. ^ a b At the time of bidding, 1996 was South Africa's previous time hosting. They would later step in to host the 2013 AFCON in place of war-torn Libya.
  12. ^ "Zambia Bids to Host 2015 Africa Cup Of Nations". Zambian Watchdog. 5 November 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  13. ^ "Zim's Afcon bid faces SA challenge". Zimbabwe Independent. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  14. ^ "CAN 2015, 2017 bid applications closed". CAF Online. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  15. ^ "Organisation de la Can 2015 : Une commission de la Caf en Rdc le 12 novembre prochain en visite d'inspection". Groupelaviner. 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  16. ^ "DR Congo withdraws CAN 2015, 2017 bid". CAF Online. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  17. ^ "AFCO 2015 and 2017/ Morocco: CAF for inspection in Casablanca". Star Africa. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Morocco to host 2015 African Nations Cup". Reuters. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  19. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee after meetings on 21–22 September" (PDF). cafonline.com. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013.
  20. ^ "Nigeria: CAF Names Host Cities for 2015 Nations Cup". allafrica.com. 24 September 2013.
  21. ^ "Ebola outbreak: Postpone Africa Cup of Nations, say hosts Morocco". BBC Sport. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  22. ^ "CAF maintains Orange AFCON 2015 from January 17 to February 8". Confederation of African Football. 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014.
  23. ^ "2015 Nations Cup: Morocco fails to meet deadline". BBC Sport. 8 November 2014.
  24. ^ a b "2015 Nations Cup: Caf confirms Morocco will not host finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  25. ^ a b c "Africa Cup of Nations: Caf to reveal hosts in two to three days". BBC Sport. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  26. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco banned from next two tournaments". BBC Sport. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Morocco Fined $1M for Failing to Host African Cup". ABC News. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Morocco win appeal over Afcon 2017 and 2019 bans". BBC Sport. 2 April 2015.
  29. ^ "Sports minister says Ghana won't host African Cup". USA Today. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  30. ^ "2015 Nations Cup: Nigeria fail to qualify for finals". BBC Sport. 19 November 2014.
  31. ^ a b "EQUATORIAL GUINEA DESIGNATED HOST COUNTRY OF ORANGE AFCON 2015". CAF. 14 November 2014.
  32. ^ Hughes, Ian (18 January 2015). "Zambia 1-1 DR Congo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  33. ^ a b c d "Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). Confederation of African Football.
  34. ^ "Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal in Group of Death". CAF. 4 December 2014.
  35. ^ "Decisions made by the CAF Executive Committee, convened January 24th 2014" (PDF). Cafonline.com. 26 January 2014.
  36. ^ "Orange AFCON 2015: Procedure for the draw". CAF. 1 December 2014.
  37. ^ "Orange African Cup of Nations 2015 – Equatorial Guinea Official Draw on December 3rd 2014 Draw Procedures and Seeded Teams" (PDF). CAF.
  38. ^ "Afcon 2015: Mali and Guinea managers criticise drawing of lots". BBC Sport. 28 January 2015.
  39. ^ "Procedure for the draw between Mali and Guinea". CAF. 28 January 2015.
  40. ^ "Guinea to face Ghana in quarter final". CAF. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015.
  41. ^ Hills, David. "Africa Cup of Nations 2015: Guinea and Mali draw lots – live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  42. ^ "Quarterfinal matches of Ebebiyin and Mongomo relocated respectively to Bata and Malabo". CAF. 27 January 2015.
  43. ^ "BBC Sport – Congo 2-4 DR Congo". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015.
  44. ^ "Congo – DR Congo". Youtube. 31 January 2015.
  45. ^ "Match report: Congo 2–4 DR Congo" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  46. ^ "BBC Sport – Tunisia 1-2 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015.
  47. ^ "Tunisia – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 31 January 2015.
  48. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations referee banned for controversial Equatorial Guinea penalty". 3 February 2015.
  49. ^ "Match report: Tunisia 1–2 Equatorial Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  50. ^ "BBC Sport – Ghana 3-0 Guinea". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015.
  51. ^ "Ghana – Guinea". Youtube. 1 February 2015.
  52. ^ "Match report: Ghana 3–0 Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  53. ^ "BBC Sport – Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015.
  54. ^ "Ivory Coast – Algeria". Youtube. 1 February 2015.
  55. ^ "Match report: Ivory Coast 3–1 Algeria" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  56. ^ "BBC Sport – DR Congo 1-3 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. 4 February 2015.
  57. ^ "DR Congo – Ivory Coast". Youtube. 4 February 2015.
  58. ^ "Match report: DR Congo 1–3 Ivory Coast" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  59. ^ "BBC Sport – Ghana 3-0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 5 February 2015.
  60. ^ "Ghana – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 5 February 2015.
  61. ^ Ames, Nick (5 February 2015). "Ghana players, fans pelted with missiles in win over Equatorial Guinea". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  62. ^ Press Association (6 February 2015). "Equatorial Guinea fined £65,000 over Africa Cup violence against Ghana". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  63. ^ "AFCON 2015: Christian Atsu wins Man of the Match in Equatorial Guinea win". Ghana Soccernet. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  64. ^ "BBC Sport – DR Congo 0-0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015.
  65. ^ "DR Congo – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 7 February 2015.
  66. ^ "Match report: DR Congo 0–0 (4–2 pen.) Equatorial Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  67. ^ "BBC Sport – Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana". BBC Sport. 8 February 2015.
  68. ^ "Ivory Coast – Ghana". YouTube. 8 February 2015.
  69. ^ "Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI". CAF. 12 February 2015.

External links

Scores after extra time are indicated by (a.e.t.), and penalty shoot-out are indicated by (pen.).

All times local, WAT (UTC+1).

Quarter-finals

Congo 2–4 DR Congo
Doré 55'
Bifouma 62'		 Report Mbokani 65', 90+1'
Bokila 75'
Kimwaki 81'
Attendance: 31,670
Tunisia 1–2 (a.e.t.) Equatorial Guinea
Akaïchi 70' Report Balboa 90+3' (pen.), 102'
Attendance: 41,000
Ghana 3–0 Guinea
Atsu 4', 61'
Appiah 44'		 Report
Attendance: 14,500
Ivory Coast 3–1 Algeria
Bony 26', 68'
Gervinho 90+4'		 Report Soudani 51'
Attendance: 15,000

Semi-finals

DR Congo 1–3 Ivory Coast
Mbokani 24' (pen.) Report Y. Touré 20'
Gervinho 41'
Kanon 68'
Attendance: 30,000
Ghana 3–0 Equatorial Guinea
J. Ayew 42' (pen.)
Mubarak 45+1'
A. Ayew 75'		 Report
Attendance: 15,520

Third place play-off

DR Congo 0–0 Equatorial Guinea
Report
Penalties
Mabwati soccer ball with check mark
Mabidi soccer ball with check mark
Mbemba soccer ball with check mark
Mongongu soccer ball with check mark		 4–2 soccer ball with red X Balboa
soccer ball with red X Fabiani
soccer ball with check mark Juvenal
soccer ball with check mark Ellong
Attendance: 15,520
Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)

Note: no extra-time was played

Final

Main article: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Ivory Coast 0–0 (a.e.t.) Ghana
Report
Penalties
Bony soccer ball with red X
Tallo soccer ball with red X
Aurier soccer ball with check mark
Doumbia soccer ball with check mark
Y. Touré soccer ball with check mark
Kalou soccer ball with check mark
K. Touré soccer ball with check mark
Kanon soccer ball with check mark
Bailly soccer ball with check mark
Die soccer ball with check mark
Barry soccer ball with check mark		 9–8 soccer ball with check mark Wakaso
soccer ball with check mark J. Ayew
soccer ball with red X Acquah
soccer ball with red X Acheampong
soccer ball with check mark A. Ayew
soccer ball with check mark Mensah
soccer ball with check mark Badu
soccer ball with check mark Afful
soccer ball with check mark Baba
soccer ball with check mark Boye
soccer ball with red X Razak
Attendance: 32,857

Statistics

Goalscorers

3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Awards

Pepsi Highest Scorer
Player name Games played Goals scored Assists Minutes played Source
Ghana André Ayew 6 3 2 [1]
Republic of the Congo Thievy Bifouma 4 3
Tunisia Ahmed Akaïchi 4 3
Democratic Republic of the Congo Dieumerci Mbokani 6 3 1
Equatorial Guinea Javier Balboa 6 3
Orange Man of the Competition
Best Goalkeeper
Nissan Goal of the tournament
Samsung Fair Player of the Tournament
Fair Play of the tournament
 DR Congo[2]
CAF Team of the Tournament[3]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Ivory Coast Sylvain Gbohouo
Democratic Republic of the Congo Robert Kidiaba (tie) 		Ivory Coast Serge Aurier
Ghana Harrison Afful
Ivory Coast Kolo Touré 		Ghana André Ayew
Ivory Coast Yaya Touré
Ivory Coast Max Gradel
Democratic Republic of the Congo Yannick Bolasie
Ivory Coast Gervinho 		Ghana Christian Atsu
Ivory Coast Wilfried Bony

Discipline

In the final tournament, a player was suspended for the subsequent match in the competition for either getting red card or accumulating two yellow cards in two different matches. The disciplinary panel has the ability to increase the automatic one match ban for a red card (e.g. for violent conduct). Single yellow card cautions were erased at the conclusion of the group stage, and were not carried over to the knockout stage.[4] The following players were or are suspended during the final tournament – for one or more games – as a result of red cards or yellow card accumulations:

Player Offence Suspension
Burkina Faso Florent Rouamba Carried over from qualification Group A vs Gabon[5]
Zambia Donashano Malama Group B vs DR Congo[6]
South Africa Eric Mathoho Group C vs Algeria[7]
South Africa Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Guinea Seydouba Soumah Group D vs Ivory Coast[8]
Ivory Coast Gervinho Red card vs Guinea Group D vs Mali
Group D vs Cameroon[9]
Equatorial Guinea Diosdado Mbele Yellow card vs Congo
Yellow card vs Burkina Faso 		Group A vs Gabon
Republic of the Congo Boris Moubhibo Yellow card vs Equatorial Guinea
Yellow card vs Gabon 		Group A vs Burkina Faso
Ivory Coast Cheick Tioté Yellow card vs Guinea
Yellow card vs Mali 		Group D vs Cameroon
Guinea Naby Yattara Red card vs Ghana Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
Equatorial Guinea Ibán Yellow card vs Tunisia
Yellow card vs Ghana 		Third place play-off vs DR Congo

Tournament team rankings

As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1  Ivory Coast 6 3 3 0 9 4 +5 12 Champions
2  Ghana 6 4 1 1 10 3 +7 13 Runner-up
3  DR Congo 6 1 4 1 7 7 0 7 Third place
4  Equatorial Guinea (H) 6 2 3 1 5 5 0 9 Fourth place
5  Congo 4 2 1 1 6 6 0 7 Eliminated in
Quarter-finals
6  Algeria 4 2 0 2 6 5 +1 6
7  Tunisia 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 5
8  Guinea 4 0 3 1 3 6 −3 3
9  Senegal 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4 Eliminated in
Group stage
10  Mali 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
11  Cape Verde 3 0 3 0 1 1 0 3
12  Gabon 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3
13(T)  Cameroon 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
13(T)  Zambia 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
15  South Africa 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
16  Burkina Faso 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts

Marketing

Sponsorship

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations has one title sponsor and seven official sponsors as shown below.[10]

Title sponsor Official sponsors

Match ball

The new Adidas Africa Cup Ball is called Adidas Marhaba (meaning Welcome, in Arabic). The Africa Cup 2015 Ball was unveiled 26 November 2014 following the controversy about the host situation for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.[11]

Mascot

The official mascot of the tournament was "Chuku Chuku", a porcupine.[12]

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations took place on 17 January, at the Estadio de Bata, before the opening match of the tournament between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Congo.

Controversies

Drawing of lots

Guinea and Mali finished with equal records in Group D, thus the drawing of lots was required to choose who would advance into the quarter-finals. Prior to the draw, Mali coach Henri Kasperczak said that the tournament "must find a more sporting way [to decide who advances], fairer...This does not correspond to a sporting spirit". His Guinean counterpart Michel Dussuyer said that neither team deserved to be eliminated in that manner.[13]

Guinea won the draw, causing a complaint from Boubacar Diarra, president of the Malian FA. Issa Haytou, president of CAF, defended the process as the only option.[14]

The CAF Disciplinary Committee's South African President Raymond Hack stated that CAF's Member Associations had chosen the option of picking lots ahead of penalties six months prior. He also said that the "Fair Play [disciplinary] table was to be used but the countries object to that and they said the table must be taken out of the rules. Had the Fair play table been used, Guinea would have qualified ahead of Mali with a better disciplinary record."[15]

Tunisia vs. Equatorial Guinea refereeing

Wadie Jary, the president of the Tunisian Football Federation, claimed that there was a bias against Tunisia following their controversial quarter-final defeat to Equatorial Guinea on 31 January 2015. He was banned from CAF competitions and activities.[16] Rajindraparsad Seechurn, the Mauritian referee who gave a penalty to Equatorial Guinea in that match, was banned from officiating for six months and removed from CAF's elite register of referees.[17] The Tunisian FA was fined $50,000 for confronting the referee during the match, in addition to damage to changing room facilities, while Equatorial Guinea was fined $5,000 for inadequate security at the stadium.[17]

Equatorial Guinea vs. Ghana crowd incidents

During the semi-final fixture between host nation of Equatorial Guinea and Ghana several incidents occurred between the home fans, visiting fans and police. At the half-time break with Ghana leading the game 2-0, the Ghanaian players were protected from hostile Equatoguinean fans by police using plastic shields.

During the 82nd minute in the second half, fans rushed onto the pitch and missiles were thrown at the Ghanaian substitute players. The players moved onto the pitch to escape the missiles. The travelling Ghanaian fans were also targets and took shelter near the goal of the pitch, out of the range of those throwing objects. A helicopter was dispatched and used to disperse spectators out of the stadium by hovering at a low height above them. The Ghanaian FA described the incident as being similar to a "war zone".[18]

Equatorial Guinea's Police force had fired smoke bombs into the stands in an attempt to bring order.[19] The game was stopped for about 30 minutes, before recommencing for a few minutes.

CAF imposed a US$100k fine on the Equatoguinean Football Federation and were informed an 'official match' in Equatorial Guinea must be held 'behind closed doors' after the tournament's completion.[20]

DR Congo defender Gabriel Zakuani stated that he would rather his team forfeit the third-place playoff instead of play in front of Equatorial Guinea's fans, an opinion which was not shared by his manager Florent Ibengé.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Andre Ayew top-scores Afcon competition". Ghana FA official website. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Atsu, Ayew win mvp and top scorer awards". CAFonline.com. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI". CAF. 12 February 2015.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference regulations was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Start list: Burkina Faso 0–2 Gabon" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Malama suspended for 2015 AFCON opener". MTN Football. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Confirmed: Mathoho Out Of AFCON Opener". Soccer Laduma. 6 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Ebola-hit Guinea made 'very welcome' at Cup of Nations". Yahoo Sports. 19 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Two-game suspension for Gervinho". CAF. 22 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Sponsors". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Adidas Marhaba - 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Ball Revealed". Footy Headlines. 26 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Timeline Photos - CAF / Africa Cup of Nations - Facebook". facebook.com.
  13. ^ "Mali and Guinea coaches unhappy at drawing lots for AFCON quarter-final place". The National. Agence France-Presse. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  14. ^ "African Cup of Nations 2015: Guinea win cruel' drawing of lots to reach quarter-finals". The Independent. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  15. ^ ""Member countries chose drawing of lots"- CAF". CitiFM Online. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  16. ^ "SUSPENSION OF THE PRESIDENT AND ULTIMATUM FOR TUNISIAN FEDERATION". CAF. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Africa Cup of Nations: Referee banned for six months". BBC Sport. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations: Semi-final was 'war zone', says Ghana FA". BBC. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  19. ^ Ames, Nick (5 February 2015). "Ghana players, fans pelted with missiles in win over Equatorial Guinea". The Guardian. Guardian (UK). Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  20. ^ "SANCTIONS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENTS IN MATCH 30 GHANA-EQUATORIAL GUINEA". CAF. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations riot: DR Congo's Zakuani wants game off". BBC Sport. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.

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