Ivory Coast qualify as Togo eliminates Algeria

Yaya Toure did not need my endorsement to pull off a coup, in a match in which Gevinho was man-of-the-match and Didier Drogba started from the bench. The three-gun salute handed to the Tunisians followed the four goal salvo we saw 24 hours ago when Burkina Faso blasted Ethiopia.

The African Footballer of the Year does not need me as a fan, but nonetheless, he is making good progress in impressing me. I don't doubt his quality but the problem is me. A few flashes of tactical awareness as well as unquestioned individual brilliance did not convince me that Africans can compete outside their sphere of influence.

There were pockets of good decision-making, obviously a result of the experience these players gained in the Barclays English Premier League and the French League. Where decisions were bad, the execution of technique cancelled matters out, given the opposition did not capitalise to punish the wrong decisions.

It was a solid and round performance by African standards, but still lacked the tactical maturity of the game at national levels. Tunisia had hoped to steal something out of the match with Drogba benched.

The former Chelsea cult hero came on and nearly registered his first 2013 Afcon goal. He proved a thorn as his presence led to that Yaya goal after Gervinho had short the Elephants ahead in the first half, and when Tiote scored with his first touch after coming on, it was a master stroke.

Algeria huffed and puffed firing blanks as they have done in their build-up to the tournament, as well as the 2010 Fifa World Cup. I cannot remember the last time they hit the net in a tournament. Their adversaries, Togo, started slowly, sizing up their way up.

The Togolese always played the inaccurate long ball, which was spot on just on one occasion and Emmanuel Adebayour punished them, beating the goalkeeper on a one versus one.

It was a basic route one football, a long ball from the back and then a ping-pong heading tennis from Adebayour to  Romao onhis left and then to Adebayour’s path. The tall Tottenham Hotspur striker outpaced the defender and slotted the ball under advancing goalie.

A physical battle in midfield ensued and that brutality led to several claims by the North Africans for penalties. The referees did not bow down to pressure. Algeria forced their way into the final third often but failed to direct the final pass or the shots.

As the attack swarmed the Togolese penalty area, it seemed the desperate attempts would yield something for the Algerians but it was vain attempts. It was until the drama of the broken goalpost that stole the show in the last five minutes.

The upright post broke at the base and the wobbling posts and nets had to be replaced, though it took far too long. To add unsolicited drama, the match officials played the five minutes and then added thirteen more minutes.

That gave Togo one more counter-attacking opportunity. A through pass from the centre circle was chased by substitute Wome, who had a few touches and slotted the ball once again, under the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

The Algerians became the first team to be eliminated while the Ivoirians were the first to qualify with their 100% records each.

Rooney Will Play For City. Wanna Bet? and Spurs have a surprise for Inter.

Wayne Rooney has been facing a tough moment of his life. Manchester United are not helping. He now wants out of Old Trafford after stepping on Sir Alex's toes but his potential destination is shifting location and very quickly. Real Madrid are at pains trying to explain how much they do not need Rooney. Well, it is the common language when such matters arise as Man U will tell you that Rooney is not for sale to anyone at anytime.

Rooney is trying to sort out his love life as his marital issues compound his lack of form that began just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup and his clash with the coach does not help matters. The United one man band is never the same player who won all individual accolades last season and the last thing he needed is being caught cheating on his wife with expensive whores or a sour relationship with the revered Sir Alex. At least, not when his form is rock bottom.

During his bad days in the office, Valencia broke a leg, and Berbetov blew very hot and extremely cold and Man U were like another team next door. Forget that Manchester claim they won't sell and that Real deny their interest. Frankly, Jose Mourinho was never a fan of Rooney, but watch this space. Real Madrid will be walking all over Barcelona after one Togolese striker joins Cristiano Ronaldo in January.

Nobody has to love, want or need Rooney. His time at Man U is done and someone must take him out of Old Trafford, not to play him, but to deny him getting a team where he will be more useful. The only one with enough lifting power to do that will be Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester City. Arsenal would use his razor sharp skills but City will be Rooney's team of choice. This will be just to rub in the red and powdered chillis into Sir Alex's eyes and nose. Barcelona have nothing to offer him. Real has Ronaldo. Even then, they really do not need him.

Manchester City are already lining up for the Manchester's favourable son. This is how it works out. Just because the Abu Dhabi billionaires will want to throw it at their neighbours and have the money to burn, and knowing United will hate to build the monster that will dominate them, City will pass Emmanuel Adebayour to Real Madrid even if it means them paying his salary, and romp in Rooney. Believe you me, Rooney will be playing alongside Tevez come January and United will hate it.

Before we part, the Champions League is on this week and I will spare you the blah blah blah that may discourage you enjoying your teams' woeful performances. The Game of the Week will be the champions , Inter Milan hosting the rookies, Tottenham Spur. This is the moment of truth for Spurs and so far, their biggest match id over half a century. They have been facing warm up situations and tomorrow night, they come up against the real deal. To cut the long story short, Milan will not know what hit them. If you watch football with your eyes and an open mind and not with your heart and emotion, you know what I'm talking about. I hope to hear from you after the Champions League matches.