Group D of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was played from 20 January until 28 January in Equatorial Guinea. The group consisted of Ivory Coast, Mali, Cameroon, and Guinea. Ivory Coast and Guinea advanced as group winners and runners-up respectively, while Mali and Cameroon were eliminated.
Teams Draw position Team Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance CAF RankingsPoints FIFA RankingsStart of event D1 Group D runners-up 19 November 2014 21st 2013 Winners (1992) 44 28 D2 Group B runners-up 19 November 2014 9th 2013 Runners-up (1972) 38 49 D3 Group D winners 15 November 2014 17th 2010 Winners (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002) 23.5 42 D4 Group E runners-up 19 November 2014 11th 2012 Runners-up (1976) 19 39
Notes
Standings
In the quarter-finals: Ivory Coast advanced to play Algeria (runner-up of Group C). Guinea advanced to play Ghana (winner of Group C).
Matches All times local, WAT (UTC+1).
Ivory Coast vs Guinea Guinea took the lead in the 36th minute when Mohamed Yattara smashed home a headed clearance from the Ivory Coast defence. Gervinho was sent off in the 58th minute for hitting Naby Keïta in the face, but the 10-men Ivory Coast equalized in the 72nd minute, as Wilfried Bony controlled the ball on his chest and passed to Seydou Doumbia to score.
GK 16Sylvain GbohouoRB 17Serge Aurier CB 21Eric BaillyCB 4 Kolo TouréLB 22Wilfried KanonCM 19Yaya Touré (c) CM 9 Cheick Tioté RW 10Gervinho AM 8 Salomon Kalou LW 20Serey Dié CF 12Wilfried BonySubstitutions:DF 5 Siaka Tiéné FW 7 Seydou Doumbia MF 6 Cheick Doukouré Manager: Hervé Renard GK 1 Naby YattaraRB 20Baissama SankohCB 17Boubacar FofanaCB 10Kévin ConstantLB 5 Fodé CamaraCM 4 Florentin PogbaCM 3 Issiaga SyllaRW 15Naby KeïtaAM 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c)LW 12Ibrahima ContéCF 2 Mohamed Yattara Substitutions:FW 7 Abdoul Camara Manager: Michel Dussuyer Man of the Match: Ibrahima Traoré (Guinea)
Assistant referees: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Yahaya Mahamadou (Niger) Fourth official: Joaquin Esono Eyang (Equatorial Guinea)
Mali vs Cameroon Mali took the lead in the 71st minute as Molla Wagué's flick-on from a free kick allowed Sambou Yatabaré to score at the far post. Cameroon equalized in the 84th minute, after Ambroise Oyongo controlled Raoul Loé's lofted pass to score from close range.
GK 16Soumbeïla DiakitéRB 15Drissa DiakitéCB 23Molla WaguéCB 4 Salif CoulibalyLB 3 Adama TambouraDM 8 Yacouba SyllaRM 14Sambou Yatabaré CM 17Mamoutou N'Diaye CM 12Seydou Keita (c)LM 10Bakary SakoCF 7 Mustapha Yatabaré Substitutions:MF 6 Tongo Doumbia FW 20Modibo Maïga MF 21Abdou Traoré Manager: Henryk Kasperczak GK 16Fabrice OndoaRB 6 Ambroise OyongoCB 21Aurélien ChedjouCB 3 Nicolas N'KoulouLB 12Henri BedimoCM 18Eyong Enoh CM 4 Raoul LoéRW 8 Benjamin MoukandjoAM 13Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (c)LW 11 Edgar SalliCF 10Vincent AboubakarSubstitutions:MF 20Franck Kom FW 15Franck Etoundi Manager: Volker Finke Man of the Match: Sambou Yatabaré (Mali)
Assistant referees: Jerson dos Santos (Angola) Oamogetse Godisamang (Botswana) Fourth official: Joseph Odartei Lamptey (Ghana)
Ivory Coast vs Mali Mali took the lead in the 7th minute, as Bakary Sako scored home from Sambou Yatabaré's cross. Ivory Coast equalized in the 86th minute, when Serge Aurier passed to Max Gradel to score.
GK 16Sylvain GbohouoRB 17Serge AurierCB 22Wilfried Kanon CB 4 Kolo TouréLB 5 Siaka TiénéCM 14Ismaël Diomandé CM 9 Cheick Tioté RW 19Yaya Touré (c)LW 21Eric BaillyCF 12Wilfried Bony CF 7 Seydou DoumbiaSubstitutions:MF 15Max Gradel FW 8 Salomon Kalou FW 11Tallo Gadji Manager: Hervé Renard GK 16Soumbeïla Diakité RB 15Drissa DiakitéCB 23Molla WaguéCB 4 Salif CoulibalyLB 3 Adama TambouraDM 17Mamoutou N'DiayeCM 12Seydou Keita (c) CM 8 Yacouba Sylla RW 10Bakary Sako LW 14Sambou Yatabaré CF 7 Mustapha Yatabaré Substitutions:GK 1 Germain Berthé MF 6 Tongo Doumbia FW 20Modibo Maïga Manager: Henryk Kasperczak
Man of the Match: Seydou Keita (Mali)
Assistant referees: Redouane Achik (Morocco) Malik Alidu Salifu (Ghana) Fourth official: Juste Ephrem Zio (Burkina Faso)
Cameroon vs Guinea Cameroon took the lead in the 13th minute, when Benjamin Moukandjo's corner evaded everybody and hit the goalkeeper to go into the net. Guinea equalized in the 42nd minute, as Ibrahima Traoré received a pass from Issiaga Sylla, and shot home from outside the penalty area.
GK 16Fabrice OndoaRB 6 Ambroise Oyongo CB 21Aurélien ChedjouCB 3 Nicolas N'KoulouLB 12Henri BedimoRM 8 Benjamin MoukandjoCM 17Stéphane Mbia (c)CM 4 Raoul Loé LM 11Edgar SalliCF 13Eric Maxim Choupo-MotingCF 10Vincent Aboubakar Substitutions:DF 5 Jérôme Guihoata FW 15Franck Etoundi MF 20Franck Kom Manager: Volker Finke GK 1 Naby YattaraRB 20Baissama SankohCB 5 Fodé CamaraCB 4 Florentin Pogba LB 3 Issiaga SyllaDM 17Boubacar Fofana RM 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c) CM 10Kévin ConstantCM 12Ibrahima ContéLM 18Seydouba Soumah CF 2 Mohamed YattaraSubstitutions:DF 13Abdoulaye Cissé MF 15Naby Keïta FW 19François Kamano Manager: Michel Dussuyer
Man of the Match: Ibrahima Traoré (Guinea)
Assistant referees: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Anouar Hmila (Tunisia) Fourth official: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon)
Cameroon vs Ivory Coast The only goal of the match was scored by Max Gradel in the 35th minute, as he stole the ball from the Cameroon defence, dribbled inside and shot home from outside the penalty area. The win sent Ivory Coast to the quarter-finals as group winners, while Cameroon were eliminated.
GK 16Fabrice OndoaRB 5 Jérôme GuihoataCB 21Aurélien ChedjouCB 3 Nicolas N'KoulouLB 12Henri BedimoCM 14Georges MandjeckCM 8 Benjamin Moukandjo RW 13Eric Maxim Choupo-MotingAM 17Stéphane Mbia (c)LW 15Franck Etoundi CF 11Edgar Salli Substitutions:FW 10Vincent Aboubakar FW 2 Léonard Kweuke MF 7 Clinton N'Jie Manager: Volker Finke GK 16Sylvain Gbohouo RB 17Serge AurierCB 21Eric Bailly CB 4 Kolo TouréLB 22Wilfried KanonCM 20Serey DiéCM 19Yaya Touré (c) RW 15Max GradelAM 7 Seydou Doumbia LW 5 Siaka TiénéCF 12Wilfried BonySubstitutions:DF 2 Ousmane Viera FW 11Tallo Gadji MF 6 Cheick Doukouré Manager: Hervé Renard
Man of the Match: Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)
Assistant referees: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi) Fourth official: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
Guinea vs Mali Guinea took the lead in the 15th minute with a penalty by Kévin Constant, which was awarded due to a handball by Salif Coulibaly. Mali then were awarded their own penalty three minutes later after Baissama Sankoh was penalised for handball, but Seydou Keita's penalty was easily saved. Mali equalized in the 47th minute, when Abdoulay Diaby crossed for Modibo Maïga to head home. The match finished in a 1–1 draw, the same scoreline as both Guinea and Mali's previous two matches, meaning that the two teams were tied on head-to-head record, overall goal difference, and overall goals scored. A drawing of lots were held the next day to decide which team qualify for the quarter-finals as group runner-up, which was won by Guinea (see below for details).
GK 1 Naby YattaraRB 13Abdoulaye CisséCB 20Baissama SankohCB 5 Fodé CamaraLB 3 Issiaga Sylla DM 15Naby KeïtaCM 17Boubacar FofanaCM 10Kévin Constant RW 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c) LW 12Ibrahima ContéCF 2 Mohamed YattaraSubstitutions:DF 23Djibril Tamsir Paye FW 18Seydouba Soumah FW 7 Abdoul Camara Manager: Michel Dussuyer GK 1 Germain BerthéRB 15Drissa DiakitéCB 23Molla WaguéCB 4 Salif CoulibalyLB 3 Adama TambouraDM 17Mamoutou N'Diaye CM 8 Yacouba SyllaCM 12Seydou Keita (c)RW 18Abdoulay Diaby LW 20Modibo MaïgaCF 7 Mustapha Yatabaré Substitutions:MF 10Bakary Sako MF 14Sambou Yatabaré MF 21Abdou Traoré Manager: Henryk Kasperczak
Man of the Match: Modibo Maïga (Mali)
Assistant referees: Anouar Hmila (Tunisia) Malik Alidu Salifu (Ghana) Fourth official: Mehd Abid Charef (Algeria)
Drawing of lots 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.
The draw took place at 16:00 WAT (UTC+1) on 29 January 2015, at the Hilton Malabo. Representatives of each team drew a ball, one of which was numbered '2' and the other numbered '3'. Guinea drew the ball '2' and were placed as runners-up in the group, with Mali being third. As such, Guinea advanced to the quarter-finals and Mali were eliminated.
References
External links Orange Africa Cup Of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015, CAFonline.com