BATA - Equatorial Guinea are on the verge of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals despite being 125:1 no-hopers three days ago.
Victory overstunned Senegal in today's 9pm match before an expected 35000 sell-out crowd at theBata Stadium and a win or draw for Zambia against Libya in the first half of a double-header, would give the co-hosts a last-eight place.
The unexpected scenario arises because former Real Madrid midfielder Javier Balboa scored three minutes from full-time to give a country ranked 41st on the continent a 1-0 victory over Libya.
Zambia shocked Senegal 2-1, leaving Teranga Lions coach Amara Traore to rethinks his Group A strategy.
Equatorial Guinea have not sailed smoothly into their first Afcon, with Brazilian coach Gilson Paulo taking over less than three weeks before the kickoff after Frenchman Henri Michel quit, citing interference.
Naturalised goalkeeper Danilo from Brazil, defenders Lawrence Doe from Liberia and Fousseny Kamisoko from Ivory Coast, and midfielder Thierry Fidjeu from Cameroon had to endure "mercenary" taunts from sections of the media. And an ankle injury prevented captain and striker Rodolfo Bodipo starting against the Libyans, though he came on as a substitute.
Stand-in skipper Juvenal Edjogo believes the opening-match victory can inspire the National Lightning. "It was so important for us to begin the competition with a win and the future is looking bright," said the wiry midfielder from Spanish second-tier club Sabadell.
Star-studded Senegal entered the tournament ranked fifth in Africa, and among the bookmakers' favourites.
"We must go back to fundamentals like passing, working together and being aggressive," said coach Traore.
"We still have a chance to go through and losing to Zambia changes nothing."
Equatorial Guinea on brink of upset
BATA - Equatorial Guinea are on the verge of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals despite being 125:1 no-hopers three days ago.
Victory overstunned Senegal in today's 9pm match before an expected 35000 sell-out crowd at theBata Stadium and a win or draw for Zambia against Libya in the first half of a double-header, would give the co-hosts a last-eight place.
The unexpected scenario arises because former Real Madrid midfielder Javier Balboa scored three minutes from full-time to give a country ranked 41st on the continent a 1-0 victory over Libya.
Zambia shocked Senegal 2-1, leaving Teranga Lions coach Amara Traore to rethinks his Group A strategy.
Equatorial Guinea have not sailed smoothly into their first Afcon, with Brazilian coach Gilson Paulo taking over less than three weeks before the kickoff after Frenchman Henri Michel quit, citing interference.
Naturalised goalkeeper Danilo from Brazil, defenders Lawrence Doe from Liberia and Fousseny Kamisoko from Ivory Coast, and midfielder Thierry Fidjeu from Cameroon had to endure "mercenary" taunts from sections of the media. And an ankle injury prevented captain and striker Rodolfo Bodipo starting against the Libyans, though he came on as a substitute.
Stand-in skipper Juvenal Edjogo believes the opening-match victory can inspire the National Lightning. "It was so important for us to begin the competition with a win and the future is looking bright," said the wiry midfielder from Spanish second-tier club Sabadell.
Star-studded Senegal entered the tournament ranked fifth in Africa, and among the bookmakers' favourites.
"We must go back to fundamentals like passing, working together and being aggressive," said coach Traore.
"We still have a chance to go through and losing to Zambia changes nothing."
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