Group A

January: Libya “forfait face à l’Algerie”. Disqualified by FIFA.

11 June 1989: Ivory Coast 0-0 Algeria

Ivory Coast the better team, put Algeria under pressure – but without getting the goal. Star player Youssouf Fofana was missing.

TBC

Matches

06.01.1989 Algeria 3-0 Zimbabwe (goals)
08.01.1989 Ivory Coast 1-0 Libya ANNULLED
20.01.1989 Libya – Algeria FORFEITED Awarded to Algeria with a 2-0 scoreline
22.01.1989 Zimbabwe 0-0 Ivory Coast
11.06.1989 Ivory Coast 0-0 Algeria
25.06.1989 Zimbabwe 1-2 Algeria (the majority of the first and second halves)
13.08.1989 Ivory Coast 5-0 Zimbabwe
25.08.1989 Algeria 1-0 Ivory Coast (goal)

Final standings

  1. Algeria 4 3 1 0 6-1 7
  2. Ivory Coast 4 1 2 1 5-1 4
  3. Zimbabwe 4 0 1 3 1-10 1
  4. Libya – record expunged

Algeria progress through to the final play-off phase

Group B

11.06.1989 Liberia 1-0 Malawi

Weah had only just arrived from the cup final Monaco-Marseille. Weah “avait pris l’avion dimanche matin”.
Two spectators died. (L’Union 13 June 1989, p. 12), due to a “bousculade dans les gradins”. Before the match started.

Malawi 1-0 Kenya
Ref: M. John Nkhatazo.
Goal: Peterkins Kayira (56′). Assist: Lawrence Waya.
YC: Abbas Magongo (KEN).
Att: 30.000 (Civo Stadium)
MAL: Ganizani Masiye (George Waya) – Gilbert Chirwa, Félix Nyirongo, Young Chimodzi (c.), Mphatso Namwali – Peterkins Kayira, Mabvuto Lungu, Kenny Malunga, Holman Malunga – Lawrence Waya, MacDonald Singo (Austin Nyondo).
KEN: Washington Muhanji – Wycliff Anyungu, Pitalis Owuor, Austin Oduor (c.), Tobias Ochola – Micky Weche (Paul Onyera), Bernard Otieno (Gabriel Olang), Abbas Magongo, George Onyango Fundi – Peter Dawo, Sammy Onyango.

Malawi the better team, probably.

TBC

Matches

06.01.1989 Egypt 2-0 Liberia (goals)
07.01.1989 Kenya 1-1 Malawi (Malawi goal)
21.01.1989 Malawi 1-1 Egypt (goals) (full game)
22.01.1989 Liberia 0-0 Kenya
10.06.1989 Kenya 0-0 Egypt (highlights)
11.06.1989 Liberia 1-0 Malawi
24.06.1989 Malawi 1-0 Kenya
25.06.1989 Liberia 1-0 Egypt
12.08.1989 Egypt 1-0 Malawi (goal)
12.08.1989 Kenya 1-0 Liberia
26.08.1989 Egypt 2-0 Kenya (highlights)
26.08.1989 Malawi 0-0 Liberia 

Final standings

  1. Egypt 6 3 2 1 6-2 8
  2. Liberia 6 2 2 2 2-3 6
  3. Malawi 6 1 3 2 3-4 5
  4. Kenya 6 1 3 2 2-4 5

Egypt progress through to the final play-off phase

Group C

Gabon’s ambitions were low. Even before the encounter against Cameroon, manager Da Costa claimed that their ambitions were to qualify for the next summer’s ANC in Algeria. (L’Union 13.06.1989, p.12). The qualification for the ANC would take place…

11 June 1989 Angola 2-0 Gabon
Goals: Maluka (8, 28)
YC: Louba (71′), Ondo (76′).
Att.: 80,000.
Ref.: M. Célestin Ncho (CIV)
Angola: Toze – Nejo, Quim Sebastiao, Santo Antonio, Mane – Novato, Abel, Paulao (Jerry 82′), Lufemba (Zacarias 68′) – Saavedra, Maluka.
Manager: Jénuldo Ferrena.
Gabon: Otchanga – Amégasse, Angoué, Bongo, Louba – Raouto, Mbinah (Ondo Valéry 75′), Kassa Ngoma, Nkwélé – Mabouéla (Aguékyzo 55′), Minko.
Manager: Da Costa. (i.e. Alain da Costa Soarès)
Described as an easy win for Angola. Two early goals, and Gabon rarely threatened.

Gabon line-up:
Louis Otchanga (GK) 4,5/10.
Hervé Angoué (D R) 4,5
Georges Bongo (D C) 4,5
François Amégasse (lib) 4
Joseph Louba (D L) 4. Troubled by Abel.
Etienne Kassa-Ngoma (DM) 5
Guy Mbinah (milieu polyvalent) 5
Brice Nkwélé (milieu offensiv) 4,5
Jean-Claude Mabouéla (attaquant du milieu) 4,5. Played on the left.
Samuel Raouto (ailier droit) 4
Michel Minko (F C) 2!! “Ne donne jamais l’impression de disputer une rencontre de Coupe du monde.”
4-2-3-1??
(Sub: Aguékyzo, ailier droit: 4. replaced maboéla, who played on the left?!

Mbinah and Raouto – had been out of the team for a little while?

Best performers for Angola according to L’Union: nr. 8 Paulao, AM R. Also: Maluka, Lufemba, Saavedra.

25 June 1989 Gabon 2-1 Nigeria

Peter Rufai had had to travel back to Europe to sign a new contract with Lokeren, before arriving late for this match. It had been uncertain whether he was able to play at all.

In an interview with L’Union (24.-25. June, p. 12), Da Costa had revealed that he was contemplating playing libero François Amégasse as a deep-lying midfielder. Da Costa believed this could suit his playing style better. His replacement as libero: Franck da Costa (club: Pétrosport). Perhaps also a three-man central defence, moving Etienne Kassa-Ngoma to drop back.
The team was welcoming back Nicaise Ondéno, who would play as an attacking midfielder.
Guy-Roger Nzamba was injured. Brice Nkwéle was uncertain, but was hopefully match fit on match day. Likewise, Valéry Ondo was carrying an injury and uncertain.
Also Alphonse Moulouma was injured and ruled out.
Youngster Remboundou “devra faire sa rentrée en équipe nationale”, da Costa said.

Goalkeepers: Louis Otchanga, Jacques Dékousou, Armel Rolenga.

Manager Da Costa seems to have been a club manager as well, for Mangoungou. (?)

TBC

Matches

07.01.1989 Nigeria 1-0 Gabon
08.01.1989 Cameroon 1-1 Angola
22.01.1989 Gabon 1-3 Cameroon
22.01.1989 Angola 2-2 Nigeria (highlights)
10.06.1989 Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon 
11.06.1989 Angola 2-0 Gabon
25.06.1989 Angola 1-2 Cameroon
25.06.1989 Gabon 2-1 Nigeria
12.08.1989 Nigeria 1-0 Angola
13.08.1989 Cameroon 2-1 Gabon
27.08.1989 Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria (goal)
27.08.1989 Gabon 1-0 Angola

Final standings

  1. Cameroon 6 4 1 1 9-6 9
  2. Nigeria 6 3 1 2 7-5 7
  3. Angola 6 1 2 3 6-7 5
  4. Gabon 6 2 0 4 5-9 4

Cameroon progress through to the final play-off phase

Group D

Morocco 1st match: Bouderbala had ruled himself out of the match, as he felt he was in bad physical shape as well as having a morale lowdown because of a lengthy ban imposed by the French FA. Hence, no Bouderbala for Morocco.

11 06 1989 Zaire 0-0 Morocco
Att: 80.000
Zaire dominating play, but couldn’t carve open a cautious Moroccan side (reliant on counter-attacks).
Very few goal opportunities: the best, in the 79th minute! Effort by Tueba.
Morocco preview: Goalkeeper Badou Zaki had not been released by club Mallorca. Attackers Aziz Bouderbala and Chaouch were injured. Also injured: Abdelmajid Lemriss.
New manager for Morocco: Antonio Angellilo. They had played an unofficial friendly in Belgium, against a side of Moroccon professional players based in Belgium And travelled by plane from Brussels to Kinshasa.
In the squad: Mohamed Timoumi (but carrying a knock). Lashaff. Abdellah Nacer. Moulay Hachem El-Ghorf. Azmi (GK), Widad Casablanca. Tijani, Hcina, Jilal Fadel, Ermouki, Baddidi, Mesbahi. Haidamou, Fadili, Khairi. Nader. (16 players!!)

25 June 1989 Zambia 2-1 Morocco
Ref: Bester Kalombo (Malawi)
Att: 35,000.
Goals: Musonda (42′), Mohamed Timoumi (73′), K Bwalya (87′)
YC: Mohamed Madih, Ahmed Ermouki.
RC: Ahmed Ermouki (2xYC)
ZAM (4-4-2): 1 Efford Chabala – 13 Changwé, 15 Melu (c), 5 Beston Mulenga, 3 Kapambwé Mulenga – 7 Msiska (12 Mbasela), 6 Makinka, 14 Musonda, 11 Bwalya – 10 Chansa, 19 Malitoli
MOR (4-3-2-1): 1 Rafahya – 2 El Maataoui, 4 Ouadani, 5 Fadel, 3 Ermouki – 7 Madih, 6 Fadili, 8 Haidamou (13 Mesbahi) – 11 Lashaf (9 Anaflous), 10 Timoumi (c) – 16 Nader
Three starting ‘foreigners’ in the Moroccan XI, of which Lokeren’s midfield playmaker Timoumi was the most recognizeable to a wider audience.
Huge protests from the Moroccan camp about the performance of referee Kalombo. They tried to “bousculer” him, but members of the “service d’ordre” protected the referee. Bwalya had scored from a direct free kick, which they held that the referee had signalled to be indirect. Moreover: time was over, they claimed.

Zambia were the better team for most of the game, with their central midfield two of Makinka and Musonda bossing the opposition. There were relatively few clear cut opportunities, but they went ahead late in the first half thanks to their teenage Anderlecht star in midfield, who tucked home from close range. The Zambian team continued to look the stronger after the break, but failed to capitalize, and then fell victim to a sucker punch as the gifted Timoumi slotted home a delicately executed free-kick from a position to the right outside the area. Looking like they’d blown a game they should have had a firm grip on, Zambia then netted an injury time winner in highly controversial fashion, as Bwalya’s 25 yard free-kick found its way into the bottom left corner of Morocco’s goal. The free-kick awarded them, though, had been an indirect one, as confirmed through referee Kalombo’s raised arm, but the goal was still allowed to stand, which sparked fury among the visitors, no wonder. 

TBC

Matches

08.01.1989 Morocco 1-0 Zambia (goal)
08.01.1989 Zaire 3-1 Tunisia 
22.01.1989 Tunisia 2-1 Morocco (goals)
22.01.1989 Zambia 4-2 Zaire 
11.06.1989 Zaire 0-0 Morocco
11.06.1989 Zambia 1-0 Tunisia (goal – check it out!)
25.06.1989 Tunisia 1-0 Zaire (goal)
25.06.1989 Zambia 2-1 Morocco (last 10+ of first half, whole second half)
13.08.1989 Morocco 0-0 Tunisia
13.08.1989 Zaire 1-0 Zambia
27.08.1989 Morocco 1-1 Zaire (goals)
27.08.1989 Tunisia 1-0 Zambia (goal – worth checking out)

Final standings

  1. Tunisia 6 3 1 2 5-5 7
  2. Zambia 6 3 0 3 7-6 6
  3. Zaire 6 2 2 2 7-7 6
  4. Morocco 6 1 3 2 4-5 5

Tunisia progress through to the final play-off phase

CAF final round →