AFCON: FIVE semi-finals facts – including 1 about Benni McCarthy!

There have been 55 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals since 1957 when Egypt defeated hosts Sudan 2-1 in the very first ever played.

Below, a look at FIVE interesting AFCON facts from those matches:

– Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida scored the quickest goal just one minute into a 2-0 triumph over South Africa in Lagos 22 years ago. Babangida, then with Ajax Amsterdam, was the star of the show as he also netted the second goal for the co-hosts.

– Another former Ajax forward, South Africa’s Benni McCarthy, claimed the latest goal, 22 minutes into extra time in a 1998 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Ouagadougou. McCarthy now coaches 2021/22 CAF Champions League title contenders AmaZulu.

– Raafat Attia scored the first goal, putting Egypt ahead against Sudan on 21 minutes in Khartoum 65 years ago. His clubs included future African giants Zamalek, named after a Cairo suburb, and later coached in Saudi Arabia.

– Zambia sharpshooter Bernard ‘Bomber’ Chanda scored the only hat-trick in 1974 against Congo Brazzaville in Cairo. Known as the KK XI in honour of then President Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia triumphed 4-2 after extra-time.

– The 55 matches have produced 161 goals at an average of 2.9 per semi-final.

The most common scores have been 1-0 and 2-1 with 12 each, there have twice been seven goals while 4-0 was the widest winning margin and achieved three times.