That opening AFCON fixture between the hosts Cameroon and Burkina Faso (2-1) promised an intense, exciting tournament embellished with many goals. Instead, however, we’ve got ourselves a totally different, one would say binary competition so far. Not sure what we are talking about?Then just have a look at a whole bag of clean sheets or one-goal ties…Ethiopia – Cape Verde 0-1Senegal – Zimbabwe 1-0Guinea – Malawi 1-0Morocco – Ghana 1-0Comoros – Gabon 0-1Algeria – Sierra Leone 0-0Nigeria – Egypt 1-0Sudan – Guinea-Bissau 0-0Nothing but 0’s and 1’s – as binary as it gets. Or if you prefer some more mathematics, we’ve seen an alarming number of only 1.00 goals per game (9 goals in 9 matches). If it continues like that – and we definitely hope it won’t – it will be the worst AFCON in history in terms of goals scored.AFCON 2021: Title holders Algeria held by stubborn Sierra LeoneEven if we neglect those early years of competition when the level of football was way below today’s standards, and the defending was not so high on the list of priorities (a staggering 4.50 goals per game in 1962), those current numbers are difficult to comprehend. Only 13 years ago, the 2008 AFCON saw 3.09 goals per game. Every other edition since saw a decline, but never below 2.00. Unfortunately, this one threatens to be the “poorest” one in history.AFCON day three: Out of three continental giants, only one smiles at the end of the dayBut is this maybe a good thing, a consequence of formidable defending which deserves praise? Unfortunately, although we’ve witnessed some outstanding saves and man-marking, it seems not. What is lacking is creativity and pace in that final third of the pitch. Better solutions and out-of-the-box thinking that would allow forwards to find themselves in more promising positions for scoring.Without that much-needed approach, attackers like Salah, Mane, Mahrez and others are left with relentless attempts to find some tiny pockets through which they could fire. The fact those three are household names in the EPL doesn’t guarantee a similar scoring output once they engage with their national teams.Sadio Mane spares shaky Senegal’s blushes in last gasp win over ZimbabweThere’s no Klopp, Guardiola, De Bruyne or Henderson there to provide them with much space, quality passes, and set-ups. Left alone and surrounded by a whole pack of defensive wolves – with expectations and pressure higher than Mont Everest – they have been non-productive so far.Still, there’s a glimpse of hope things will improve once the tournament reaches further stages. With their backs to the wall, many teams would have to attack with much more courage and versatility, leading us to more goals. But just like with everything in life – there’s also a risk that the importance of the eliminatory games would even increase that goal-scoring deficit.The AFCOn goal drought of #TeamGuineaBissau has now extended to 527 minutes.This follows their goalless draw with Sudan in their #AFCON2021 opener.Their last AFCON goal came in Group Stage loss to Cameroon on January 18, 2017.#AFCON2021 #SilverAfcon21 pic.twitter.com/Gb5ZKkULUl— Michael Asare Boadu (@MrBoadu) January 12, 2022 If so, penalty shootouts would serve not only to determine who’ll advance to the next round or win the tournament but as the only exciting details worth mentioning in our reports.By: Bojan Babic
