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Makomborero Mutimukulu in MALABO, Equatorial Guinea
THE Confederation of African Football will resort to the drawing of lots if teams in a group cannot be separated by points or goal difference. CAF reiterated the position on Saturday evening after the four teams in Group D of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations — Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon and Guinea — played out to 1-1 draws for the second match day running.

The results left the four countries not only tied on two points each, but also sharing the same goal difference of zero.

Guinea showed great resolve to share the spoils with a Cameroon side that has been rocked by allegations that some football administrators are influencing coach Volker Finke’s team selection.

Now if Wednesday’s final matches, featuring the clash between Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon as well as the tussle between Mali and Guinea, end in identical scoring draws, it will mean that all four teams will end the group stage with the same points (3) and the same goal in difference.

In that case Caf will stand guided by Article 14 of the Competition Regulations which stipulates that: “In case of equality of points between two or more teams, after all the group matches the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria:

14.1 Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams.

14.2 Best goal difference in the matches between the concerned teams.

14.3 Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the concerned teams.

14.4 Greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams.

14.5 Goal difference in all the group matches.

14.6 Greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches

14.7 A drawing of lots by the organising committee of Caf”

Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard appears a man under pressure as he has losing his cool regularly on the touchline.

The Frenchman will have to make do without midfield enforcer Cheik Tiote after the Newcastle man was booked for the second game in row.

Gervinho, who was red carded in the match against Guinea, will also miss the clash with Cameroon.

The Elephants flirted with defeat on Saturday before a late equaliser, from a substitute, earned them a point at Estadio de Malabo.

The 1992 champions needed a Max Gradel equaliser after having fallen behind with just six minutes on the clock, Bakary Sako finding the net with a well-timed volley off a Sambou Yatabare cross.

The Ivoirians were seething at Moroccan referee Bouchaib El Ahrach, who made a series of questionable calls, including awarding a ridiculous indirect free kick after adjudging that Guelassiognon Gbohouo had handled a back pass.

“I have never seen such officiating,” Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Solomon Kalou said after the game.

“You don’t want to say much because of the rules but that was a bad advertisement for our game. I was also shocked that Mali took seven minutes to make their goalkeeping substitution and that time was not added on.”

The Eagles of Mali are sweating over the fitness of first choice goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite, who limped off with 20 minutes to go, and was replaced by Germain Berthe.