Tops
Max-Alain Gradel, successful beginnings
To discover
Africa Cup of Nations: schedule and results
Africa Cup of Nations standings
The captain of the Elephants has done justice to his status.
At the very start of the meeting, Max-Alain Gradel cold-picked his opponent with a splendid strike with his right foot in the top corner, leaving Sapunga helpless.
Aged 34, the former Toulouse player was generous in his races without ever balking at defensive tasks.
This goal from the first game of the competition will give him confidence for the rest of the deadlines to come in this group E. Satisfactory.
Sangaré, omnipresent in the midfield
An all-terrain midfielder.
This is what suits him best.
With the number 18 behind his back, Ibrahim Sangaré showed above average physical form in this part.
In the midfield, he imposed his "law" to compensate for the oversights Franck Kessie, affected early in the match.
Very close to the break (30th) on a service from Gradel, the PSV Eindhoven player shows that he can also be present in the opponent's area.
A box-to-box environment.
Nsue stirring
A player from Equatorial Guinea was able to do well in this match.
Emilio Nsue was interesting at the forefront of the Nzalang Nacional attack.
Facing the central hinge Bailly-Deli, the road captain of Equatorial Guinea had the ball of the equalizer just after the hour mark (62nd) but it was without counting on the vigilance of Badra Sangare.
Courageous and brave, he gave his team the desire to engage in each duel until the last second.
Leader.
Flops
Haller not at the rendezvous
The serial scorer, who brings the defenders of Eredivisie (Netherlands) and the whole of Europe to their knees, has been discreet.
Installed at the forefront of the Elephant attack, Sébastien Haller had a difficult start to enter him in the running for his selection.
Alongside Maxwel Cornet and Max-Alain Gradel, the Ajax Amsterdam player has failed to be put in the best position to try to be decisive.
Collective success remains the most important at the end of this meeting.
On a personal level, there is no doubt that Sébastien Haller is not satisfied with his performance.
Deli, a hand that looks like a penalty
Ivorian central defender Simon Deli to take a deep breath.
His hand fault in his own area could have allowed Equatorial Guinea to return to the score before the return of the locker room (40th).
Fortunately for him, the VAR did not consider this fault to be willful.
In the second act, Emilio Nsue gave his opponent a hard time.
Deli has shown his limits against valiant forwards.
Against Algeria, he will have to rectify the situation to clinch first place in Group E.