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29.01.2015 Sports News

Drawing of lots: Guinea or Mali: Black Stars quarter final opponent draw explained

By Allsports.com.gh
Drawing of lots: Guinea or Mali: Black Stars quarter final opponent draw explained
29.01.2015 LISTEN

The Ghana Black Stars in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations just can't keep their name off the back football pages on the African continent. This time unlike a certain 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, for good and thrilling football reasons.

Asamoah Gyan emphasized his legend when all hope seemed lost to grab a winner against Algeria in the last significant kick of the game that was a must win for the Black Stars.

The senior national team of Ghana rose from being last in Group C with 17 minutes plus additional time to the end of the South Africa game to top the group after the final whistle.

And now with all group games  over, the Black Stars of Ghana do NOT KNOW which team they will be playing in the quarter final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

And here's why.
Ghana topping Group C means they would have to play the second placed team in Group D containing Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali and Cameroon.

After the round of all Group D games, Ivory Coast top with 5 points, Guinea and Mali are level on 3 points each with Cameroon last on 2 points.

Here's where it gets tricky.
Guninea and Mali have drawn all their games scoring the same amount of goals in each game they play. Guinea currently lie in second position on the Group D log due to alphabetical order which does not count in the rule books governing the tournament.

This leaves the tournament organizers to enter the rule books and Article 74 outlines the actions to be taken in such situations.

This is what the rule says according to Article 74 in CAF's regulation for the tournament for progress of teams:

74.2.1 The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned

74.2.2 The best goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned

74.2.3 The greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned

74.2.4 If after applying criteria 74.2.1 to 74.2.3, two teams are still tied

74.2.1 to 74.2.3 criteria are again applied to matches played between the two teams in question to determine the final ranking of the two teams. If this procedure does not allow separating them, the criteria listed from 74.2.5 to 74.2.7 are applied in the indicated order

74.2.5 The goal difference in all group matches
74.2.6 The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

74.2.7 A drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee

Guinea and Mali equal in all the areas under review so there is no other choice but to comply with Article 74.2.7 which outlines a drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee.

This is how the drawing of lots will be made on Thurday, 29 January 2015 at 16H00 local time at the Hilton Malabo, to determine who qualifies to the quarter final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations between Guinea and Mali.

The draw will take place during a meeting of the Organising Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The names of the two teams will be presented before being placed into two balls. An official from the audience will be invited to take pick up a ball which will be the team that has qualified for the quarter finals.

Just like a scratch and win promotion, the official picks your ball and you're promoted to the quarter final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Fingers crossed Guinea, Mali and Ghana as the Black Stars await to see who they play.

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