Guinea back on track after Botswana mauling

Guinea revived their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations hopes after a record-equalling 6-1 rout of 10-man Botswana here on Saturday. Guinea were matching the record victory margin for a Nations Cup match and are only the third team after Egypt in 1963 and Ivory Coast in 1970 to have scored six goals in a tournament match. Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane reflected: "We must accept that Guinea were the better team, even though, three or four of the goals we let in were our own mistakes," he said. "We are sorry to our fans because we expected what our country expected." Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said it was crucial they won so as to get their campaign back on course. "We needed to win because we don’t want to go back home. We were not lucky against Mali, but we very satisfied we scored many goals in this game," said the Frenchman. "Botswana showed in their qualifiers they are a good team and so to score six goals against them was very satisfying for my team." The Syli National, who lost their first Group D game to Mali, fired four first-half goals past debutants Botswana, who narrowly lost 1-0 to Ghana in their opening match. Guinea, on three points, will on Wednesday take on Ghana in the final batch of Group D games in Libreville, while Mali tackle Botswana. The result of the other Group D match between Ghana and Mali will determine what Guinea need to reach the last eight of this tournament.  Guinea enjoyed more of the early play and in the 14th minute, goalkeeper Modiri Marumo was called to make the first save off a powerful shot from outside the box by Mamadou Bah. They took the lead one minute later when Sadio Diallo finished off a low cross by the tricky Abdoul Camara from the left. Dipsy Selolwane drew Botswana level in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot at the second attempt after Jerome Ramatlhakwana was brought down inside the box by Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara. Selolwane was back after serving out a one-match suspension. In the 27th minute, Diallo scored his second goal for Guinea when he connected with another low cross from the left by the fleet-footed Camara. Camara made it 3-1 for Guinea in the 42nd minute when he followed up a quick free kick by Pascal Feindouno before he fired a low shot past the diving Marumo from a very tight angle. Botswana substitute Patrick Motsepe saw red for dangerous play in first half stoppage time, when he fouled Feindouno on the edge of his goal area. And from the resulting free kick, Ibrahima Traore, always a constant danger against The Zebras, netted Guinea’s fourth goal after four minutes of additional time to worsen Botswana’s problems. Diallo should have got his hat-trick in the 55th minute, but he blasted wide off target when he was clear on goal. Four minutes later, Feindouno's shot crashed against the underside of the Botswana post and television replays later showed that it should have been given as a goal for Guinea. Ismael Bangoura missed an easy chance to extend Guinea’s lead in the 69th minute after he turned past his marker sharply inside the box only to misdirect his shot. Bah made it 5-1 in the 84th minute, when he thundered home from 24 metres after he was set up by the impressive Camara. Two minutes later, Naby Soumah added to Botswana woes with a sixth goal as he shot home from inside the box.