“Many spectators attending Sunday’s quarter-final in Luanda were surprised to be handed condoms upon entry – with the donors perhaps mindful of how an earlier victory had prompted some Angolans to parade naked through the streets. Either way, the message seemed to be – ‘Make love, not war’ – which, even though the Ghanaians punctured their hosts’ happy bubble, was timely. For last night, Egypt beat Cameroon 3-1 to set up a repeat of their intense World Cup play-off against bitter foes Algeria, a game that sparked outbreaks of violence and enormous tensions across the Arab world.” (BBC)

Egypt-Algeria rivalry spills deeper
“Hosni Mubarak isn’t a man accustomed to defeat. The Egyptian president, after all, has been in charge for more than 30 years, outflanking regional and global rivals with consummate ease. Even Egypt’s electoral process offers him scant chance of coming second: He romped during the 2005 elections with almost 90 percent of the vote.” (SI)

Cameroon fury as Hassan ‘goal’ helps Egypt progress
“Defending champions Egypt became the third team to reach the semi-finals of the Africa
Cup of Nations last night, overcoming Cameroon 3-1 after extra time in a match marred by a controversial third goal in Benguela.” (Independent)

The Footballl History Between Egypt & Algeria
“Tomorrow is the African Nations Cup’s semifinals match between Egypt and Algeria and everybody is already tensed about this (pay back) match for the Egyptians and (survival for the fittest) match for the Algerians. I just hope this will pass with no violence between the two teams or among the supporters.” (DailyIntake)

Revenge not an issue for Gomaa
“Wael Gomaa insists defending champions Egypt are not thinking about revenge ahead of their African Nations Cup semi-final against arch rivals Algeria. The two north-African giants meet in Benguela for the right to face either Ghana or Nigeria who will clash in the other last-four clash, a derby from the west of the continent.” (ESPN)

Angola players back coach Manuel Jose to stay on
“Two senior Angolan players have told BBC Sport that they want Manuel Jose to continue as coach of the national team in the wake of their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. The Palancas Negras were beaten 1-0 by Ghana in the quarter-finals on Sunday, leaving several players in tears in front of their home crowd.” (BBC)

Amodu confident of Nigeria success
“Shaibu Amodu admits traditional rivalry will be an added incentive when Nigeria come up against Ghana in the African Nations Cup semi-final but is confident his team can prevail. The two west African giants clash in Luanda in one of two final-four derbies – the other seeing Egypt take on Algeria in the battle of the north – as the tournament reaches its closing stages.” (ESPN)

“Fierce west African rivals Ghana and Nigeria are preparing to face each other in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, in one of the biggest games between the two in recent years. Here, we ask our reporters in the two countries to gauge the contrasting moods in the Ghanaian and Nigerian press ahead of Thursday’s crunch tie.” (BBC)

‘Match of Hate,’ Renewed
“With the taste of World Cup defeat still lingering, Egypt will have a chance to face down its archrival Algeria — again — when the teams play in the African Cup of Nations semifinal Thursday in Benguela, Angola. The two North African teams played two fiercely contested matches late last year to determine the final spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The meetings were marred by violence and controversy.” (NYT)

Algeria plan to airlift fans to Angola for Egypt semi
“The Algerian government says it has plans to airlift hundreds of its fans to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Egypt. Thousands of Algerian fans were flown into Sudan last November as they beat Egypt 1-0 in a World Cup play-off game. The minister of foreign affairs Mourad Medcli says plans are already in place.” (BBC)

Super Eagles edge through after shoot-out
“Vincent Enyeama was the hero for Nigeria saving one penalty and then scoring the crucial final one to help his side seal a place in the African Nations Cup semi-finals with a shoot-out victory over Zambia. The Super Eagles, outplayed for large parts of the clash in Lubango, looked to be heading for the exit door after struggling in the face of their determined opponents, who did everything apart from finding the back of the net during the 120 minutes of open play.” (ESPN)

African Nations Cup 2010
(ESPN)

“When Ivory Coast winger Kader Keita scored from long range in the 89th minute it looked as though the pre-tournament favourites would reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. But Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra headed in two minutes later, before Hameur Bouazza of Blackpool won it three minutes into extra time. Algeria will face Egypt or Cameroon on Thursday. If Bouazza represents his country in the summer’s World Cup he will become to first Blackpool representative in that competition since Alan Ball in 1966.” (WSC)

Egypt 3 – 1 Cameroon
“Two goals in five minutes at the start of extra-time helped defending champions Egypt book their place in the African Nations Cup semi-final with a battling victory over Cameroon. The game, though, was marred by a controversial third goal by Pharaohs’ captain Ahmed Hassan which was allowed to stand by referee Jerome Damon despite replays showing the ball had clearly not crossed the line.” (ESPN)

Caf president Issa Hayatou defiant over Togo attack
“The Confederation of African Football (Caf) will never give in to “terrorism”, the ruling body’s president Issa Hayatou has said. The Cameroonian was speaking to assembled media for the first time since an attack on Togo’s team bus killed two of their delegation as well as an Angolan driver, while Togo goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale continues to recover in hospital.” (BBC)

African Nations Cup 2010 Fixtures/Results
(ESPN)

“Extra spice is rarely needed in knockout football but Sunday’s main course – the opening quarter-final between hosts Angola and World Cup finalists Ghana – was given a heady dose yesterday as tempers flared in the capital. Like other journalists, I was calmly awaiting a Ghana press conference in central Luanda’s Hotel Presidente when it all, quite literally, kicked off. Downstairs, it turned out, an accredited Ghanaian journalist was not just being denied access to the conference but also, he says, being hit and kicked by security forces at the hotel.” (BBC – Piers Edwards)

Angola 0 – 1 Ghana
“Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal to help Ghana dump hosts Angola out of the African Nations Cup and become the first side through to the semi-finals. The Rennes striker found the target in the 16th minute, ending a sweeping counter-attack with a clinical finish to stun the near 50,000 crowd at the Estadio do Novembre 11 in Luanda.” (ESPN)

Crunch time for Ivory Coast at Nations Cup
“The time has come for Ivory Coast’s talented generation to deliver when they face Algeria in a clash between World Cup-bound teams in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup on Sunday. “This generation will be playing for high stakes in the coming week. We lose all or we win all. It’s money time,” coach Vahid Halilhodzic told a news conference ahead of the game at Cabinda’s Chazi Stadium. With an average age of about 28, this year represents an excellent chance for Ivory Coast to win the tournament for the first time since 1992.” (ESPN)

Ivory Coast v Algeria
“Ivory Coast know that underestimating Algeria in their last eight clash could lead to an early Nations Cup exit. The Desert Foxes pulled a surprise when they edged out giants Egypt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.” (BBC)

Egypt v Cameroon
“Alex Song is keen not to get too caught up in the past and concentrate on the present which is a meeting with Egypt in the African Nations Cup quarter-finals. Much has been made in the build-up of the clash turning into a grudge match following the Pharaohs’ triumph over their opponents in the final two years ago in Ghana.” (ESPN)

Zambia v Nigeria
“Peter Odemwingie believes Nigeria must beat Zambia in the African Nations Cup quarter-finals if they are to take any positives out of the competition. Two years ago the Super Eagles were dumped out by hosts Ghana at the same stage but they are keen to make amends when they come up against this year’s surprise contenders.” (ESPN)

Africa Cup of Nations: The story so far
(BBC)

Ghana
“Mark Murphy has been slumped on his couch watching the African Cup of Nations for the last couple of weeks. He peeled himself away to bring us up to date with the goings-on in Angola.” (twohundredpercent)

“Zambia reached the African Nations Cup quarter-finals as a dramatic final day in Group D saw Gabon – top before kick-off – miss out on qualification. Goals from Rainford Kalaba and James Chamanga earned Herve Renard’s side a deserved victory in Benguela despite substitute Fabrice Do Marcolino’s late consolation. But it came at a price, with both Kabala and centre-half Kampamba Chintu collecting bookings which rule them out of the last eight clash.” (ESPN)

Lions out for Egyptian ‘revenge’
“Cameroon midfielder Geremi says his team will seek revenge against champions Egypt in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The two meet in the last eight on Monday in a repeat of the 2008 final, when the Pharoahs came out on top to clam their second title in a row.” (BBC)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)

“You know things are a little different when a footballer tells you he’s been missing the media – and at any Nations Cup, things tend to be different. After 10 days or so holed up in Cabinda, with such heavy security following the Togo disaster that the players only ventured out for training, Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson was giddy to be elsewhere. ‘I’m very happy to be here, seeing beautiful people like you and my countrymen, because in Cabinda there was nothing,’ the Wigan man told me here in Luanda, as though he’d been at the bottle.” (BBC – Piers Edwards)

Gabon 1 – 2 Zambia
“Zambia reached the African Nations Cup quarter-finals as a dramatic final day in Group D saw Gabon – top before kick-off – miss out on qualification. Goals from Rainford Kalaba and James Chamanga earned Herve Renard’s side a deserved victory in Benguela despite substitute Fabrice Do Marcolino’s late consolation. But it came at a price, with both Kabala and centre-half Kampamba Chintu collecting bookings which rule them out of the last eight clash.” (ESPN)

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A profiles
“Group A is led by hosts Angola who come up against star-studded Mali, World Cup-bound Algeria and Mali.” (BBC – A), (BBC – B), (BBC – C), (BBC – D)

Cameroon 2 – 2 Tunisia
“Cameroon booked their place in the quarter-final of the African Nations Cup after twice coming from behind to seal a 2-2 draw against Tunisia in Lubango. The Indomitable Lions, who needed at least a point to ensure qualification from Group D, fell behind after just 57 seconds thanks to a fine diving header from Amine Chermiti. It stayed at 1-0 until a minute after half-time, when Samuel Eto’o equalised with a close-range strike, before an own goal from Aurelien Chedjou restored the advantage for the Carthage Eagles.” (ESPN)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)

“Defending champions Egypt completed their Group C campaign with a third win from three as first-half goals from Ahmed El Mohamady and Emad Moteab ensured Benin’s elimination from the competition. Benin needed to win and for Nigeria to lose to stand any chance of progressing but Egypt scored through El Mohamady’s fortunate goal after only eight minutes to ensure that was never likely. Moteab squeezed home a second from a tight angle but despite plenty of chances there were no further goals.” (ESPN)

Egypt 2-0 Benin
“An impressive Egypt take a convincing 100% record into the next round after easily beating Benin. Ahmed Al Muhammadi’s cross somehow drifted its way into the net to put The Pharaohs ahead. Emad Moteab made it 2-0 after 24 minutes – the linesman ruling the ball over the line despite goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou’s best efforts to clear.” (BBC)

Super Eagles seal quarter final place
“A brace from Peter Odemwingie scored either side of half-time proved the key for Nigeria as they sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup with a win over Mozambique. The Lokomotiv Moscow forward scored in the 45th and 48th minutes, before substitute Obafemi Martins sealed victory with a late strike to hand under-fire Shaibu Amodu a welcome boost.” (ESPN)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)

“Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup after a first-half goal by Andre Ayew saw them through in unconvincing fashion. Ayew took advantage of some woeful marking by Burkina Faso to head home after half-an-hour and qualify in second place from Group B, behind Ivory Coast.” (ESPN)

Algeria coach admits his side played for a draw
“A goalless draw in Luanda was enough to see hosts Angola and World Cup-bound Algeria through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Angola finished top of Group A while Algeria took second thanks to their win over Mali earlier in the tournament.” (BBC)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)

“While you’re waiting for the Burkina Faso – Cote D’Ivoire match to kick off, here’s a most beautiful Angolan intermission.” (David Patrick Lane)

“Angola and Algeria both advanced to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup thanks to a goalless draw in Luanda.
With Mali beating Malawi in the other Group A match, a point apiece proved enough in a game that started brightly before petering out in the second half. The hosts went into the match top of the pool and knowing a draw would be enough to guarantee their progress.” (ESPN)

Angola 0-0 Algeria
“A goalless draw in Luanda was enough to see hosts Angola and World Cup-bound Algeria through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Angola finished top of Group A while Algeria took second thanks to their win over Mali earlier in the tournament. Algeria’s best chances came from Madjid Bougherra, with a weak close-range effort, and Karim Matmour, who failed to connect in front of an open goal.” (BBC)

Mali 3 – 1 Malawi
“A dream start for Mali gave them a first win in this year’s African Nations Cup, but Angola’s goalless draw with Algeria meant both they and Malawi missed out on a place in the quarter-finals.
Frederic Kanoute scored after just a minute thanks to a goalkeeping blunder from Swadick Sanudi and Seydou Keita added a second with a thumping free-kick two minutes later.” (ESPN)

African Nations Cup – 2010
(ESPN)