As if being beaten in their opening match by Zambia’s Chipolopolo was not enough, the much fancied Teranga Lions were convincingly beaten by the co-hosts Equaorial Guinea by two goals to one, making their last match in group A, against Libya just a formality.
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| Cisse scored 35 goals in 95 league games for Metz before joining Freiburg |
Despite having a unrivalled striking power in the likes of Newcastle United and English premier league second top scorer Demba Ba and Demba Cisse, whom they bought from Bundesliga club Freiburg on 17th of this month and who is to join the club in a five-and-a-half-year deal, they could not beat the crafty Zambians in the opening match.
They could not master the killer finish in their match against Guinea who had several motivators for winning the match. The Equatorial Guinea team was awarded $1 million for winning their match against Libya and the striker who scored the goal $ 20,000. There was a promise of a similar amount for every match that they won and $ 20,000 to every player who scored a goal from the son of the President.
But it would be harsh to say that their only motivation is money. They are playing at home as the co-hosts and therefore have great support from the home fans and having qualified for the first time, are determined to make history.
Newcastle fans will be smiling all the way to the stadium including Manager Alan Pardew because the two strikers could be back in time for their game against Blackburn.
There is no telling what the combined force of the two will do for their team. Demba Ba has scored 15 league goals so far and Cisse has a great goal scoring record having netted 9 goals in 15 games this season. He will wear the number nine shirt, formerly won by legendary Newcastle and top scorer, Alan Shearer.
Too sad Senegal didn’t live to the expectations of many who thought that they would go ahead and win the African Nations Cup but it’s quite an opposite feeling if you are a Newcastle United fan.
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