Cheick Tiote and the Ivory Coast won their first game in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), when they beat Togo 2-1 yesterday afternoon, and they now head Group D on 3 points, and are tied with Tunisia who beat Algeria 1-0 in the later game last night.
Cheick Tiote in action yesterday afternoon
Cheick did not start the game but came on as a second half substitute, and he played well as former Newcastle target Gervinho – now at Arsenal – got the winning goal for the Elephants late in the game.
Yaya Toure gave the Ivory Coast the lead after only 8 minutes but Ayite equalized in first half injury time following a corner, before Gervinho scored the winner after 88 minutes.
Tiote came on in the 63rd minute for Didier Ya Konan, and the Newcastle midfielder distinguished himself in the 86th minute, when he made a terrific block to divert Vincent Bossou’s goal bound strike over the cross-bar and saved the Elephants.
And would you believe it – after that scare, Gervinho won the game for the Ivory Coast two minutes later when he diverted a Yaya Toure free kick into the goal for the eventual winner.
The Ivory Coast now play Tunisia in the next group game on Saturday 26th January, at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
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31 comments so far
the1willy
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Comment #1Looking at all of these new siginings, although my knowledge of the French league is limited, I just get the feeling that Sissoko would be perhaps the most important of all.
I just get the sensation that this guy is a born fighter/winner and would really do a job for us.
John Tudor
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #2@ ed new banners plz down the sides x 2
jimmysmith
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Comment #3Big whoop! African cuppa freakin nations – who gives a rats’.
BigKirky
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #4Yes Ibiza I know 😉 just generally felt like putting that little equation in there as it was on my mind 🙂
To be fair on Williamson, I was specifically watching against Reading to see if he would limit the times he would launch it. In the first half, he generally played it short which was better, but still looks so uncomfortable on the ball.
Chuffed to bits with Mapou!
John Tudor
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #5is this alain pardue’s quote
“It’s important that top clubs don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s the English Premier League and English players should be involved.”
Pardue added: “Foreign players have been fantastic. We have learned from them and from foreign coaches. i think not
~Anita One Bites the Dust~
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:19 AM
Comment #6@The1willy
Just to add to that…
we would also be snatching him away from QPR and Sunderland. Added Bonus.
WWYCD
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #7So Tiote was dropped to the bench for the game? Seems his form hasn’t been missed by his nation
Still good for the Ivory Coast hope they finally get that cup and hopefully find Tiotes form over there as well
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #8Hopefully tiote will find some form whilst he is out there and come back raring to go and having to fight for his place with sissoko and anita.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #9If we are willing to spend £10.5M on RVW, then I would rather we went for Philipp Hosiner (young comet), Wilfried Bony (who has been mentioned before on here), Bafetibis Gomis or even Rickie Lambert!
…but then again I don’t know much about RVW other than we could have had him for half the amount a few years back 🙂
TorqToon
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #10Yo – Not saying it has happened mate but just what is going around here at the moment. Newcastle is VERY much the talk of the town in France.
RVW would be unreal – but still to hear anything from somebody who I wholly trust.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #11Maybe we should be looking at that Gervinho…whoever he is.
Kirky…. 🙂
John Tudor
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #12my grand farther was in france in ww1 he must have had a few rendevous with the fillies they will all be toon fans
Hatem's better than Messi
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #13Good signings so far if Colo stays.
We could still end up seeing Willo on the pitch so I’m hoping the Colo situation gets resolved.
ie The club tell him to stick to his contract and they’ll revisit in he summer.
Or we tear up his contract … buy him free tickets for “Evita” and give him the Falkland Islands too as a going away pressie.
John Tudor
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #14or their offspring
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #15ibiza
I heard gervinho was so good that he can easily pick out any seat in the stand with his shooting.
Santon03
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #16So… this january window :
Debuchy
MYM
Haidara
Gouffran
Posibly : DeJong, Sissoko, RVW or Italian striker.
that’s good window.
John Tudor
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #17haha at @hatem
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #18TS…That is pretty decent….I wonder why we’ve never been in for him before.
sirtoongospel
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #19Is Ashley still in bed? It’s almost 9.30 and he hasn’t bid for 7 players???!!! Ashley out!!! Lol.
Hopefully we will progress new additions today, with Sissoko potentially being a massive signing for us on ridiculously small money.
Also, Pardew did say that he warned Ashley that the striker to replace Ba would cost more than we got for Demba. So possibly Gouffran, Haidara, Sissoko and one more striker to come? That would be incredible. Surely we can’t bring all those in though?
WWYCD
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #20Torq
Never a bad thing to be high profile in a market we abuse haha though our name has been tarnished by certain Frenchies
RVW would be brilliant but I dont see it happening tbh would be a huge outlay in Jan but who knows I think MA was visited by a few Christmas ghosts recently
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #21Maybe Ashley employed Dekka as he knew he was useless, so that he could then come in during a window such as this and look like a mastermind negotiator and transfer dealer.
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #22http://www.soccernews.com/newcastle-reignite-interest-in-van-wolfswinkel/112030/
found this on rvw….not sure how reliable the portugese paper they refer to is though.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #23All joking aside, has Ashley been spotted last today yet? Might have gone in to a deep depression at spending some money. Sorry, did I say joking aside? Scrap that.
iggystinger
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #24I need help lol severely hung ower still pished,good news this mornin tho mbiwa excellent signin and few more to follow HTWL
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #25lilongwe
I hope that was the plan.
Then our new signings can be paraded around st james’ park at half time on a sledge pulled by good old llambias dressed as the donkey that he really is
WesJameson
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Comment #26@ jimmysmith // Jan 23, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Well i give a Rats’ mate…one of our players was involved in the game, so always good to read articles that involve them
I Love NUFC so i reiterate….ANY article involving one of our players, i will read gladly..
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #27Was just catching up on some comments from last night and saw the possible song for Yanga…liking the “you’re just too good to be true”…however a slight amendment to one of the lines…
Instead of
“and i thank god i’m alive”
have
“and I thank Ash you arrived”
Two uses of arrived though, so I’ll leave it up to you 🙂
TorqToon
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Comment #28News conference at NUFC this morning lads. 🙂
Rotonda heights
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #29jimmy smith
Only the millions of people in Africa I guess and all the clubs and fans of European based African players and possible talent spotters from European clubs. So yeah who cares !!!!!
jimmysmith
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #30Ah Wes, more power to ya pal. You’re a real trooper obviously. My apologies. I was bang out of order. Great tournament, especially for us. If only they’d hold it every season and so fascinating with so little else of note going on right now.
jimmysmith
Jan 23, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #31Yes and what with so many of those worthy fellows regular readers of the blog I’m sure Rotunda. C’mon it isn’t that interesting is it, just between the two of us, let’s be honest.