The 2023 African Cup of Nations is already underway with Felicio Milson beginning his campaign as Angola face Algeria for tonight’s Group D opening match at the Ivory Coast Stadium of Peace Bouake.

Mauritinian and Burkina Faso are the other two sides in Group D that play tomorrow, with the winners and runners up of each group guaranteed automatic qualification to the Round of 16 as they will be joined by the best four teams that finish third of the six groups.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC mourns the passing of former Maccabi and national team coach, Dror Kashtan, who died at the age of 79. Kashtan, who coached Maccabi to a League and Cup double in the 1995/96 season, is one of Israel’s legendary coaches and most decorated one of them all.

After a successful playing career, with Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Kfar Sava, Kashtan began a coaching career at the age of 33 with Kafar Sava. Since 1977, Kastan won no less than 6 league championships, 6 State Cups, 3 Toto Cups and 3 Super Cups with 6 different clubs.

One of Kashtan’s best seasons was the 1995/96 campaign as he guided Maccabi Tel Aviv to the League championship (a second in succession) as well as a State Cup whilst displaying an attacking style of play.

Before Maccabi Kashtan left his mark and filled the trophy cabinets at Kfar Sava, Hapoel Lod before winning titles at Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Petah Tikva.

IN 2006 Kashtan was appointed as Israel’s national team coach, a position he held until 2010 as he guided Israel during the EURO 2008 and World Cup qualifying campaigns. Under Kashtan Israel reached its highest ever coefficient ranking – 15^th in the FIFA ranking,

Dor Peretz scored his third and fourth league goals of the season but that wasn’t enough to help Maccabi end their winless run as they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Bnei Reineh. The 28-year-old whose side hasn’t won in the last three league matches and conceded a gap at the table that has shrunk from 10 points to three, said: “I don’t know if the title ‘crisis’ is something that suits us, but we are on a run of three matches without a victory which is significant, especially after the run we had. We all need to have a good look in the mirror, to assume responsibility, to understand how everyone expresses himself better. It all starts on Wednesday and how we return to winning ways”.

On the draws against Hadera and Bnei Reineh and the defeat to Haifa, Peretz said: “I think that we drew twice and lost once. This is our time to analyze things, to sit tight and draw as much as we possibly can from those three matches which will be something to push us forward”.

Peretz, who didn’t have the best of games against Haifa by his own high standards, reflected: “I came here tonight to play my game. Against Haifa I wasn’t up to my standards, as I am happy that today I showed a little of what I am capable of to try and help the team. As I said earlier, we will all look in the mirror and arrive on Wednesday fully prepared. We need to be more aggressive, to want more than our opponents as I think this is what will push us forward to win again”.

Preview:

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Green stadium in Nof Hagalil for the MD16 ONE ZERO League match against Bnei Reineh aiming to return to winning ways after not registering a league win during their last two matches. Up until last week, Reineh were the only side Maccabi didn’t beat in the league as Sharon Mimmer’s charges salvaged a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield in September. Reineh are currently 6th in the table with 20 points having won 5, drawn 5 and lost 5 matches scoring 18 and conceding 17 in `15 matches.

Injuries and suspensions saw Robbie Keane make several changes from the side that lost at Bloomfield last week with Roi Mishpati replacing Orlando Mosquera in goal for the first time since the 3-2 victory over Bnei Sakhnin last month. With Enric Saborit serving a one-match touchline ban, Idan Nachmias returned to partnet Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defense. Avishai Cohen on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Keane’s engine-room remained unchanged with Joris van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky as the midfield trio. Osher Davida on one wing and Dor Turgeman on the opposite flank supplied the width with Eran Zahavi leading the line aiming to put an end to his goal drought that has left him on 22 goals in all competitions but without a goal in the past five outings.

On the bench alongside Mosquea, Keane named Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Matan Baltaxa, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar and Kiko Bondoso.

As a tribute to the 100 days in which the hostages are being held in Gaza, Maccabi wore shirts with the BRING THEM HOME slogan written on their chests.

First Half

After a slow start to the game in which neither side managed to create an opening, Dor Peretz required medical treatment on his ankle after a tackle by Mohamad Osman who was consequently booked in the 10th minute. Ten minutes later however, Bnei Reineh took the lead at the end of their first serious attack of the game. Abdallah Jaaber began the attack as he charged forward down the left flank, sent a square ball towards Roei Shukrani who found Freddy Vargas down the opposite flank. Vargas curled a dangerous cross that eluded by Roi Mishpati and his defense allowing Jaaber to ghost unmarked at the far post and head in the opener.

While Reineh sat deep defending their lead, Maccabi dominated the play but reached their first chance in the 36th minute. Joris van Overeem released Peretz who snapped a low drive from the edge of the area that flashed wide of Gad Amos’ post.

Two minutes before the interval Maccabi’s pressure on Reineh’s defense forced Roei Shukrani to make a mistake as Peretz latched on the loose ball, charged into the area and with the first shot on target blasted in the equalizer. A minute inside injury time Maccabi almost completed a comeback as Dor Turgeman’s cross into the area was flicked by Era Zahavi towards goal before a combination of Gad Amos and his post denied the veteran marksman.

Second Half

Robbie Keane made his first change after the interval as Dan Biton replaced Osher Davida for the restart. In the 52nd minute and an almost carbon copy of the first half Maccabi were dominant but Reineh looked ,ore dangerous. A cross reached Shlomi Azulay who sent a powerful volley that Mishpati saved for a corner. But from the resulting corner Reineh took the lead as the ball fell to Loui Halaf who slid a ball that rolled to beat Misphati and make it 2-1. Peretz almost restored parity on 57 as he rose at the far post to meet Roy Revivo’s flick from a Biton corner, but the midfielder’s free header bounced to the wrong side of the post.

Keane made two changes at the 67th minute as he replaced both of his full-backs with Avishai Cohen and Roy Revivo replaced by Kiko Bondoso and Ofir Davidzada. Gabi Kanichowsky stepped down to right back with Bondoso took a more central role. The Portuguese midfielder could have made an immediate impact as he broke into the area but from a dangerous position opted to try and pass to Zahavi instead of shooting before Reineh’s defense managed to clear.

Yonatan Cohen was introduced for van Overeem on 81 as Keane shuffled his side with Davidzada lining up alongside Idan Nachmias and Derrick Luckassen as a third centra defender.

Within three minutes Maccabi were back on level terms as Davidzada’s through ball was directed at Zahavi who let it run between his legs to release Peretz. The 28-year-old midfielder who found himself clear through with only Amos to beat, blasted home his 12th goal of the season in all competitions.

Turgeman came close to score Maccabi’s third as he flicked Yonatan Cohen’s corner but Amos reacted at the near post to save. Inside injury time, Saied Abu Farchi replaced Turgeman as Keane made his fifth and final substitution introducing the young forward to try and grab a late winner.

Abu Farchi had a half chance as he flashed a header wide of the post to prove that it wasn’t going to be Maccabi’s night. The final whistle extended the winless run to three league matches as all attention will now turn to the Tel Aviv derby at Bloomfield on Wednesday.

Maccabi will aim to return to winning ways on Sunday as they face Maccabi Maccabi Bnei Reineh – the side that held them to a draw at Bloomfield stadium when both sides met earlier this season. On the back of the defeat to last week’s first defeat of the season which cut the lead at the top of the table to five points, Gabi Kanichowsky reflected: “It was a disappointing match and result as we didn’t look good on the night, but as we said previously, this match will not decide the fate of the championship. We must simply move on”.

Despite dropping points in the past two matches against Hadera and Maccabi Haifa, something Maccabi hasn’t done all season, Kanichowsky, remained adamant: “Throughout the season we only focused on ourselves and never looked at the league table. Even when we had a 10-point-lead at the top we never said we are winning the title or when we had the same points as Haifa or Be’ersheva we never looked down. We are maintaining the same position, as sometimes there is a good spell and sometimes there are matches when things don’t work out so well. This is normal and we must just move forward.”

Kanichowsky, who scored 3 league goals and 5 in all competitions this season, added: “Reineh looks really good and are having a very good season. We must play our football, correct things we did wrong in the previous match against them because this is an important match in order to return to winning ways”.

On dealing with a busy fixture list this season, Kanichowsky summed up: “From the start of the season we are playing under a busy fixture list, but the way I see it, every player loves playing matches especially if it is twice a week. It is true we have some injuries and players ill which effects the squad. But whoever is named in the starting line-up or the squad is a Maccabi player as it makes no difference who starts as we have a very strong team here. It makes no difference who starts as we are all here for one cause.”