PREVIEW: Equatorial Guinea and Sudan want dream run to continue

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 3, 2012, 12:15 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - As the two lowest ranked teams in the competition, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan were given few chances of progressing beyond the group stages at the Africa Cup of Nations.

But when the quarter-finals of the January 21-February 12 competition start on Saturday, both teams will be chasing an even unlikelier semi-final spot.

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, who made good use of home advantage in their upset victories against Libya and Senegal, take on Ivory Coast in the capital Malabo on Saturday.

Against the Elephants the home side are clear underdogs, but Ivorian coach Francois Zahoui, whose side was one of just two with a 100 per cent record from their group matches, says his team will not take Equatorial Guinea lightly.

'We've come here to play six 'finals' and we expect to suffer in each of them. We are going to remain focused because our objective is to win and to go as far as possible,' he said.

'If we don't make it to our destination all that we will have achieved will count for nothing. I'll be happy when we've reached our objective which is to provide pleasure to the Ivorian people.'

The co-hosts will again be on a huge cash incentive, after having picked up one million dollars for the team for each of the previous victories, but whether that will be enough for a continuation of their Africa Cup of Nations fairytale remains to be seen.

The other quarter-final match on Saturday sees Sudan face Zambia in Bata and again the coach of the overwhelming favourite - in this case Zambia - is warning his players that it will not be easy.

The last time the southern Africans went beyond the round of the last eight was in 1996 and their French coach Herve Renard earlier in the week sent home winger Clifford Mulenga for breaking the curfew.

'Sudan is a team that fights for each ball. It may not be one of the best teams at the Africa Cup but it is one team that never gives up and it will be very, very difficult,' Renard said.

Co-hosts Gabon, who topped their group after three wins, take on Mali in Libreville on Sunday, looking for a first-ever semi-final appearance at the showpiece of African football.

Their coach Gernot Rohr said: 'I don't know if the team will ever get an opportunity like that again. We are playing at home and the fans are incredible.'

Rohr's predecessor Alain Giresse now coaches Mali and the former French international says he does not have to do a lot for preparations as he knows Gabon so well.

Mali defender Ousmane Berthe does not believe playing the hosts is a major disadvantage.

'All the pressure will be on them,' he said. 'If we score a goal against them, they will feel even more pressure, so it will not be easy for them.'

The sole remaining team from north Africa, Tunisia, play against one of the tournament favorites, Ghana in the last quarter-final in Franceville on Sunday.

The Black Stars looked impressive in their two opening victories against Botswana and Mali, but then struggled against a 10-man Guinea side.

'It is another difficult match for us,' said Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan.

'The Tunisians are one of the best in the tournament although they lost to Gabon. We have seen them play and for me they are favourites for this competition so we really have to be on top of our game in order to beat them.'

In an effort to boost attendance at the game, organizers have said that they will give away free tickets to anyone who wants them after earlier matches in the town were attended by just 1,000 fans.