AFCON Team Of The Week
Soccer Laduma's 'Team of the Week' is a feature in each and every Soccer Laduma edition, highlighting the top performers from the African Cup of Nations. Selections are based on the performances of players in the quarterfinal stages of the 2015 African Cup of Nations that is currently underway in Equatorial Guinea. With the continental showpiece reaching the knockout stages, neighbours, Congo Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo locked horns at Estadio de Bata in their last eight tie. Congo DR produced what has been the most remarkable come back at this year's tournament thus far. Having trailed to early second half goals from Ferebory Dore in the 55th minute and Thievy Bifouma's 62 minute strike, Florent Ibengé's charges stormed back from 2-0 down to clinch their semi-final berth with a 4-2 win. This saw the Leopards seal a passage to their first semi-final appearance since 1998 and, end a torrid run of nine games without a win in the tournament. Hosts, Equatorial Guinea also booked their last four spot when prolific striker, Javier Balboa, struck twice to produce one of the greatest upsets at the African Cup of Nations, to eliminate 2004 champions, Tunisia with a 2-1 score line after extra time. The Eagles of Carthage seemed destined for the semi-finals after Ahmed Akaichi had put the North Africans 1-0 ahead in the 70th minute, however, Balboa converted a last minute spot kick to take the game to an additional 30 minutes, before curling home a stunning free kick in the 102nd minute to clinch the match for the home side. At Estadio Malabo, Ghana steamed past Guinea to march into the last four. Christian Atsu bagged a brace for his side, with Kwesi Appiah adding another goal to see Avram Grant's side advance from the quarterfinal stages with a convincing 3-0 scoreline. Tournament favourites in Ivory Coast and number one ranked African side, Algeria, went head-to-head into their last eight fixture at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, in a highly-anticipated tie expecting fireworks from both sides. Newly-signed Manchester City striker, Wilfred Bonny, scored twice for the Elephants, with a late Gervinho goal sealing a memorable 3-1 victory over the Desert Foxes. Herve Renard's side have now reached the last four of the tournament for the fourth time in six tournaments. The team will always be set up in a standard 4-4-2 formation, selected by Soccer Laduma's team of respected journalists. The Soccer Laduma journos are currently in deliberation over this week's selections. In the meantime we want to hear from you who you think should be in the Soccer Laduma 'Team of the Week'. Every Monday you will get the chance to post your 'Team of the Week'. See how close you get to the one which will appear in the new Soccer Laduma on Wednesday.
