“Perhaps the thing that Gabonese football has been mentioned for most in recent years is its national team’s respectable FIFA World Ranking although not for the reasons you might think. The upcoming African Cup of Nations could change all that…” In Bed With Maradona
“Rwanda is a country that still bears the scars of its recent past. Just seventeen years ago 850,000 people were murdered as post-colonial tensions spilled over into a genocide that was perpetrated by members of the Hutu ethnic community against the Tutsi people. Powerful memories of those brutal days still reverberate throughout modern Rwanda, but today the country is one of contemporary Africa’s greatest success stories.” The Equaliser
African Nations Championship – Uganda
“While the Asian Cup may be drawing to a conclusion with Japan facing Australia in the final on Saturday, keen observers of international football don’t have long to wait until their next fix. The second African Nations Championship (CHAN) gets underway on 4th February in Sudan, a tournament similar to the Africa Cup on Nations but with the fundamental difference that it is open only to players who play their football in their domestic leagues.” The Equaliser
“Jonathan Wilson recalls the events that took place in the final of the African Champions League ten years ago, the last time Tunisian giants Esperance got that far. On Sunday they’re looking to make amends for that fateful afternoon…” (Betting)
“This weekend, the qualifying for the next African Cup of Nations in 2012 starts and, as usual, there’s intrigue all round. The first round of games saw some surprises, with 2010 AFCON hosts Angola, Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Egypt and Togo hitting bumps on the very long road to Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. We had injuries galore, politics, new appointments and the potpourri that makes African football so colourful. In a guest piece for The Equaliser, Gary Al-Smith runs the rule over the upcoming fixtures and assesses the prospects of Africa’s qualification hopefuls.” (Equaliser Football)
“Stay in the game long enough, doing whatever it is that keeps you afloat, and you’re bound to get the email – how do I become a soccer writer? How do I make money off my website? They come from kids and adults, from established bloggers and newly launched dreamers. …” (This is American Soccer)
“Cast your mind back, if you will, eight years to the 2002 World Cup. It’s a sultry night in Seoul and France, defending champions and one of the hot favourites for the title, are facing Senegal, a country playing its first ever game in a World Cup finals. A momentary lapse in concentration sees Youri Djorkaeef loses possession on the half-way line and the Senegalese break with Omar Daf putting El-Hadji Diouf – a relatively unknown forward plying his trade for Lens – away down the left side. Diouf, balanced and composed, comes slightly in-field and reaches the by-line before cutting the ball back into the box.” (The Equaliser)
“Ever since enjoying a golden period of success during the late sixties Congolese football has struggled to become an established and consistent force on the international stage, the national side only ever having qualified for one World Cup – a humiliating experience in the country’s former guise as Zaire in 1974 – and producing little in the way of top-class talent.” (The Equaliser)
“I started the week at the World Expo in Shanghai and ended it at the World Cup in Cape Town. Both events offer a spectrum of perspectives on what is really happening in the world economy today.” (Huffington Post)
“Everywhere you turn in South Africa, FIFA has papered walls and billboards with the slogan ‘Ke Nako. Celebrate Africa’s Humanity.’ At first glance it seems banal and harmless. But the more I see it, the more it bothers me. First, there is something discomforting in seeing the large trademark symbol inserted next to every use of the slogan. Can you really trademark ‘Africa’s Humanity?’ Isn’t that exactly the kind of neo-imperialism an African World Cup is supposed to counter?” (Pitch Invasion)
“In early 1996, as the above quote emphasizes, it was South Africa’s Bafana Bafana soccer team—not its rugby ‘Springboks’—that captured South Africa’s imagination. Yet, in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, the American media has constructed a history implying that the most important sports moment in South African history was their victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This construction is thanks largely to Clint Eastwood’s rendition of those events in Invictus (which was released in DVD last week, ensuring further pre-World Cup attention), though ESPN has also chimed in with a documentary entitled The 16th Man. I prefer the ESPN documentary because it includes some genuine South African voices, but I also find it fascinating that in the hype around that Rugby World Cup the media seems to be missing a somewhat analogous soccer moment that came about seven months ‘post-Invictus:’ South Africa’s victory in the 1996 African Cup of Nations.” (Pitch Invasion)
Luis Fabiano
“The African footballer of the century clutches an icepack against his cheek. He is hurting. ‘I like to chew bones, turkey bones,’ mumbles George Weah, in a Liberian accent that further complicates comprehension. Watching television one day he got distracted and bit too hard. Visiting the Netherlands last weekend, Weah spent a lot of time with Dutch dentists. In between he talked about Africa and the coming World Cup in South Africa – and about whether it will be an ‘African’ World Cup.” (FI – Simon Kuper)
Emmanuel Adebayor
“How easy it is to forget that athletes at their peak are, by the very nature of their tasks, young but expected to be wise in their event, world-traveled but isolated and vulnerable. This week, Emmanuel Adebayor, the goal scorer for Manchester City, gave up the captaincy and, he said, the calling to ever play again for his country, Togo. He is 26 and a millionaire, and he said he just cannot get out of his head the day in January when Angolan separatists fired on the Togo team bus, killing three people in it.” (NYT)
“A World Cup campaign is usually a four-year process that starts when a national team engages in torturous self-examination immediately after its ouster from the last championship. Coaches are fired (or their contracts are not renewed) and aging players retire from the international scene. Even the winner is often in need of a new manager to enliven the roster and refresh tactics for the interspersed continental championship and next phase of World Cup qualifying.” (NYT)
Abou Diaby
“An article by Jonathan Wilson in the Guardian today asks an interesting question for those of us who grew up in an era in which West African football was the realm of skilled artists such as Abedi Pele, George Weah, Roger Milla, and exciting teams like the ‘original’ Nigerian Super Eagles who played swashbuckling, imaginative football. In a piece that starts out by discussing Egypt’s tactical formation (very interesting as well), he goes on to ask…” (Soccer Politics)
“Egypt coach Hassan Shehata may find he’s exceptionally popular over the next few months – not so much because he’ll be permanently swimming in a sea of congratulations, more because the world’s leading coaches may want to pick his brain. For the wily 60-year-old beat no less than four – Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Ghana – of Africa’s six World Cup finalists en route to winning January’s Nations Cup in Angola. And Nigeria, who have since sacked coach Shaibu Amodu, are pursuing the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ route, with Shehata now wanted for one of football’s hottest jobs. Though it does appear that approach has been blocked by the Egypt Football Association.” (BBC – Piers Edwards)
“Egypt provided the fairy-tale finish to an African Nations Cup that had a nightmare start and will, ultimately, go down as a completely forgettable event. The death of two members of the Togo delegation, plus the bus driver, in an attack in the disputed Cabinda region threw the tournament into turmoil before it had even kicked off, and the vagaries of competing in a country blessed with oil riches but scant people-resources seemed to take a toll on the playing standards.” (World Soccer), (1)
“In the history of stupid decisions made by sport’s governing bodies, it is difficult to find one which compares, for sheer crassness, with that of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ban Togo for the next two Africa Cups of Nations. Togo, you will surely not need reminding, were attacked by terrorists in Cabinda on the eve of the tournament. Three men died and others were seriously injured. Everybody, it is safe to imagine, would have been seriously traumatized by the assault.” (Footballing World)
“The climax to Group C summed up this Cup of Nations, a curate’s egg of a tournament which ran out of good football from the second week onwards. A tournament during which the look of delight on the face of one CAF official when Algeria beat Cote D’Ivoire turned to horror when he remembered that Algeria played Egypt next. A tournament during which the players from the English Premier League, the “best” league in the world, were almost uniformally rubbish. And a tournament which ended with the unfeasibly fierce-looking Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata managing a smile at the end which made him look even more fierce. I’ll be having the nightmares for a while.” (twohundredpercent)
Africa Cup of Nations 2010: A Tournament Best Forgotten?
“The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations is over. Though I usually love the tournament, I won’t be remembering this edition fondly. For several reasons.” (World Cup Blog)
Four things I learned from the Africa Cup of Nations
“1) There is no one at the CAF fit to manage football. The choice of Angola to host the tournament in the first place was bizarre, given that it’s a quasi-Communist autocracy in the midst of a long and bloody civil war (which stipulated that, as a nation-building exercise, many of the games in this tournament would be held in the home of the hopeful secessionists). How the tournament actually panned out made the rejected bids of places like Zimbabwe and Mozambique look sweet by comparison.” (The 90th Minute)
Questions and Representations in the Year of African Soccer
“Finally, after an eventful January, I’ve got some answers to the big questions for this year of African soccer. Was Angola 2010 a success or a failure? Yes. Will the World Cup in South Africa be a success or a failure? Yes. Let me try to explain.” (Pitch Invasion)
“Egypt successfully defended their Africa Cup of Nations title earlier today courtesy of substitute Mohamed Nagui’s strike five minutes from time. The victory sees for Egypt become the first team to win the Africa Nations Cup three times in succession and seven times overall.” (Football Fashion)
“Finally, after an eventful January, I’ve got some answers to the big questions for this year of African soccer. Was Angola 2010 a success or a failure? Yes. Will the World Cup in South Africa be a success or a failure? Yes. Let me try to explain.” (Pitch Invasion)
“Not since Buckingham Palace took so long to respond Princess Diana’s death in 1997 has an organisation so badly misjudged the mood of the public. For the decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to expel Togo from the next two Africa Cup of Nations – following their Angola 2010 withdrawal after their team bus was machine-gunned (with two team officials dying) – is simply jaw-dropping. Before we get into the whys and wherefores, let’s just clarify why the Togolese have been suspended. In the statement they released on Saturday, Caf said the following… ” (BBC – Piers Edwards)
“Super-sub Mohamed Gedo scored the only goal five minutes from time to help Egypt defend their African Nations Cup crown with victory over brave Ghana. The Pharaohs, who struggled to create many openings through the game, looked unlikely to score as the game drifted towards extra-time – until the Ittihad striker struck his fifth goal of the competition to break the resilience of their opponents.” (ESPN)
Ghana 0-1 Egypt
“Egypt secured a record seventh Africa Cup of Nations title, after beating Ghana 1-0 in a tense final in Angola. Substitute Mohamed Gedo scored the only goal of the game, playing a neat one-two before curling a superb shot past Richard Kingson in the 85th minute.” (BBC)
“The Africa Cup of Nations is traditionally fought tooth and nail as regional rivals duke it out to claim continental bragging rights. This year’s competition, now at the final stage, has felt sorely lacking; more Maui Invitational than March Madness. The play of local Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria has been particularly uneven, triggering a rush of critics to downgrade bullish predictions made so confidently after the World Cup draw.” (ESPN)
“Nigeria and Algeria, who both lost in the semifinals, played for third place in the CAF 2010 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, January 30, 2010. While it was a disappointment for both sides to not reach the final, a third place victory would be a good accomplishment. The match was in front of 15,000 spectators at the Abuja Stadium.” (The 90th Minute)
“I’ve been watching this year’s African Cup of Nations in a weird twilight kind of world. As the games are on during the afternoon and early evening, I’ve been recording them, and trying to watch them ‘as live’ late at night. This is taking Bob and Terry’s task to new heights, as it is pretty damn hard to avoid the scores when you work in a news organisation that is doing minute-by-minute coverage of the key matches. Nevertheless, at the moments when I have been up-to-date with the scores, I’ve been looking at the online coverage of the event.” (currybet – 1: UK, 2: African newspapers, 3: African newspapers, 4: British and American online newspapers)
“There have been goals in Benguela, Cabinda, Luanda and Lubango, but no goals are being scored in the Stade Slyvio Cator in Port-au-Prince. Haiti’s goalposts don’t exist anymore. Angolans paused for Haiti before every Quarter Final, the carnage of their own wars against colonialism and as proxies in the Cold War never far from their thoughts. A nation blessed by the curse of geology showing solidarity with their brothers and sisters, torn asunder by the earth’s crust, an ocean apart.” (Football Is Coming Home)
“Sometimes football can throw up the most appropriate of metaphors. A red rag to a bull almost couldn’t describe Egypt’s 4-0 thrashing of Algeria any better, from the suave matador-like performance of the holders to the mad angry rage of the Algerians. And, as if to hammer home the point, Egypt played in red. The bull ring parallels here are perfect.” (Just Football)
Algeria 0 – 4 Egypt“Defending champions Egypt strolled into the final of the African Nations Cup as eight-man Algeria bowed out in ignominious fashion. The game was evenly poised until Rafik Halliche felled Emad Moteab in the box eight minutes before the break, earning a red card for his troubles, and Hosni Abd Rabou converted the spot-kick. Mohamed Zidan added a classy second after 65 minutes before Nadir Belhadj saw red for a horror challenge on Ahmed El Mohamady five minutes later.” (ESPN)
Algeria 0-4 Egypt
“Egypt strolled through to their third successive Africa Cup of Nations final, overcoming Algeria 4-0, with their great rivals finishing with eight men. Hosni Abd Rabou put Egypt ahead from the spot, after Algeria’s Rafik Halliche was sent-off for the foul. Mohamed Zidan doubled the lead, before Mohamed Abdelshafi made it three and Mohamed Gedo completed the rout.” (BBC)
“Just as the general sense of outrage and anger that followed Egypt’s 0-1 loss in a decisive World Cup qualifying match against Algeria was starting to fade, both teams are now set to face each other in the semifinal of the African Cup in Angola on Thursday.” (NYT)
“For Real Madrid, the best thing about 2009 was that it did, eventually, draw to a close. For Barcelona, that could be their only complaint. Their task now is to dominate in another year too, to ensure that this is not a one-off, to build a lasting legacy. The cliche says getting to the top is one thing, staying there is even harder; that the second season is even more difficult than the first.” (World Soccer – 1), (2 -Barcelona’s Annus mirabilis will be hard to emulate)
“Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal to help a well-organised Ghana book their place in the African Nations Cup final with a battling victory over regional rivals Nigeria. The only goal came midway through the first half when a Kwadwo Asamoah corner caught out the napping Super Eagles defence and the in-form Rennes striker applied the finishing touches.” (ESPN)
“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)
“Amidst all the tragedy, politics, business, and even bits of sport that have made news from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, I’ve been intrigued by something conspicuous primarily in its absence: there have been virtually no stories of the juju / muti / witchcraft commonly used to exoticize the African game. Confederation of African Football (CAF) administrators must be pleased. In the midst of several embarrassing incidents during the last decade, most notably the arrest of Cameroonian coaches (one of whom was German) during the 2002 Cup of Nations in Mali for ‘trying to place a magic charm on the pitch,’ CAF has worked hard to ‘modernize’ the image of African soccer. As a CAF spokesperson noted after the Mali episode: ‘we are no more willing to see witch doctors on the pitch than cannibals at the concession stands. Image is everything.’ ” (Pitch Invasion)
“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)
“Tournaments are like time speeded up – teams can suddenly come together, or fall apart. Each tournament has its own dynamics, so it would be unwise to draw definitive conclusions for the World Cup from a competition taking place six months earlier. But if the Africa Cup of Nations is a good opportunity for five World Cup-bound teams to get some competitive match practice, it is also a great chance for their future opponents to do some reconnaissance. From a South American point of view, there’s the possibility of Uruguay meeting Nigeria in the second round, just as Paraguay might face Cameroon, and Chile could come up against Ivory Coast.” (BBC – Tim Vickery)
“Part of the brilliance of the Africa Cup of Nations is the way it puts the diverse stories of the continent on vivid display. Consider, for example, the contrasts in the tournament opener on January 10th when host Angola plays Mali. Angola’s story is one of hope for the future—having only recently emerged from a 27 year civil war after decades of Portuguese colonialism, Angola is flush with natural resources, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, four glistening new soccer stadiums built by Chinese friends, and immense potential both on and off the pitch.” (Pitch Invasion)
“The wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst Premier League bosses over the loss of players to the upcoming African Nations Cup in Angola is a sight to behold. Players were signed in full knowledge of their nationalities, and there have been the typical range of myopic comments about the competition’s timing fail to take into account the impact of rainy seasons and heightened temperatures in the summer months (although Angola, south of the Equator as it is, might be little steamy this January).” (thetwounfortunates)
“The following pictures are taken from Dream and Goals: The World Cup and World Football 1990-2010 (Dewi Lewis Publishing; http://www.dewilewispublishing.com), which showcases hundreds of photographs of passionate football fans around the world, taken by Alistair Berg. A riot policeman shares the moment of euphoria as supporters spill on to the pitch to celebrate Burkina Faso qualifying for the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 1998).” (Telegraph)
Scissors Kick 