African Cup of Nations

[spursman85]

Thought it's time we had a thread on it. Live on Eurosport from Sunday, always a bit of a viewing treat. I've had my appetite whetted by this football blog previewing the African Cup of Nations, and it generates a fair bit of buzz. Everything you want in preparation for a World Cup really - carnival like atmosphere, passionate performances and free flowing football (although the pitches can be a bit dodgy). I'm hoping Nigeria put their inconsistencies behind them and win it, although the Ivory Coast are the team most people will recognise the most. Ghana in the same group, should be a good game.

 

[spurs]

Is there any coverage / highlights on BBC? I have tickets for Ivory Coast games in the summer so will definitely be trying to follow their games.

 

[werty]

Can't find anything on the BBC website saying they're showing highlights. I'm probably not looking in the right places. They had highlights last time so fingercrossed they have it this year too.

I'm looking foward to it. I haven't seen the squads yet, but Ghana and Ivory Coast are probably favourites. Togo could upset them in their group though, so they'll have to be careful. With Eto'o up front Cameroon will always be dangerous. Unfortunetly for them they're missing/haven't picked Ekotto and Bassong. The hosts normally do well too, so it should be an interesting competition, with a few teams who could win.

I'm looking foward to Spursking posting in this thread.

 

[spurs]

I haven't heard the BBC promoting the ACN so maybe they don't have any coverage?!

According to the FIFA world rankings, Cameroon are the top seeds while Ghana are lower ranked than Algeria who we've written off for next summer.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html

I was very surprised Bassong didn't get a call up. Do you know how many African players there are in the other major European leagues (compared to prem)? Is Atouba going to be playing for Cameroon?

 

[Spursking]

REALLY looking forward to it!

 

[3Dnata]

It does get the hype of being free-flowing football etc but lots of the games have been incredibly dull.
The last North African affair made Argentina 78 look like the Corinthian Casuals and I expect this will be another authoritarian regime exploiting sport.

 

[spurs mental]

SSN: Togo have withdrawn from the competition.

 

[Dibby]

Always enjoy this tournament. Don't BBC Three always have coverage?

Shame that Togo were forced to withdraw.

 

[Bonjour]

REALLY looking forward to it!

You never came across as an ACN kind of bloke, Spursking. Good on yer! :up:

 

[tototoner]

SSN: Togo have withdrawn from the competition.

no surprise really. whole competition should be stopping if Angola cannot guarantee the safety of the players and obviously from what has happened they cannot.

doesn't bode well for WC in June either.

 

[Coyboy]

What has the WC got to do with it?

 

[Dibby]

What has the WC got to do with it?

 

[Coyboy]

...who needs a heart....

 

[nipponyid]

It's on Eurosport i believe!

Angola v Mali @ 19.00GMT

Monday we got;
Malawi v Algeria @ 13.45GMT
Cote d'Ivoire v Burkina Faso @ 16.00GMT
Ghana v Togo @ 18.30GMT/ bye for Ghana - Togo pulled out of tourney.

 

[Partizan]

Well, it seems they have reconsidered their decision and will go on and play!

Togo's footballers have voted to stay in the African Cup of Nations despite being recalled by their government, according to the French sports daily l'Equipe.
As the death toll of the machine gun ambush on their team bus rose to three, the team, captained by Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor, voted to stay and play for the men who died and for the eight others wounded.
"The entire delegation just met and, after all, we'll be on the pitch Monday to play against Ghana,'' midfielder Alaixys Romao, who plays for French club Grenoble, told L'Equipe shortly before 1 am. local time.
Thomas Dossevi,a forward who had earlier said the team were preparing to fly out of Angola today, later confirmed that the players had changed their minds.

"In memory of the dead, the national team has decided to play in the African Cup of Nations," said Mr Dossevi. "We are all heartbroken, it is no longer a party, but we want to show our national colours, our values and that we are men."
Mr Romao told l'Equipe: "People died for this tournament, others were injured. We can't abandon them and leave like cowards.
"If we stay here, it's for them. But also so as not to give satisfaction to the rebels," he said..
"Our government doesn't necessarily agree with us but we are determined to play in this competition. The decision was taken unanimously.''
An assistant coach, press officer and driver were killed in the ambush by separatist gunmen near Cabinda, a terrorist stronghold, and two players were among those who were shot and injured. The rebel group Front for the Liberation of Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Angolan government and tournament officials had been pressing Togo to stay at the event, amid moves to heighten security.
Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou told Togo he'd received a guarantee from Angola Prime Minister Antonio Paulo Kassoma that security would be beefed up for all teams and at all venues.
"You came here to play football but unfortunately two of your brothers were killed,'' Mr Hayatou said. ``I am feeling terribly bad and short of words.
" In case you decide to leave the competition, we will definitely understand your decision and it will be accepted. It is a difficult choice - individual and collective - you are the only ones who can decide."
The Togo government has demanded an apology from Angola and from African Cup organizers for basing the team in Cabinda. Government spokesman Pascal Bodjona said noone had informed Togo that it was dangerous to travel by road to Cabinda. he said he found it difficult to understand why Angolan authorities chose that town to host cup matches when it knew "the area was a dangerous and risky zone."
With Africa's football championship set to open as planned on Sunday, other teams spoke of their fear that they too might become the target of attacks.
``We have goose bumps ... who knows what is going to happen to us,'' said Amade Chababe, Mozambique assistant coach.
Ivory Coast was "shocked and are living through very hard times'' but not considering pulling out, general manager Kaba Kone said.
Togolese officials named the dead men as media officer Stanislas Ocloo and assistant coach Amalete Abalo, and said reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale had been evacuated to Johannesburg for medical treatment.
Togo's first game in the tournament is scheduled to take place on Monday against Ghana.
Manchester City confirmed earlier that Mr Adebayor, the Togo captain who is also their striker, would be returning home unharmed.
The attack, comes just six months before the continent hosts its first ever World Cup.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article6982676.ece

 

[Wellspurs]

Its on Eurosport now featuring our old boy Freddy Kanoute.

 

[antiloqus]

Unbelievable comeback! Mali come from 4-0 down to 4-4 all in about 15-20 mins! still time on the clock too...

 

[antiloqus]

correction: 11 mins. Wow.

 

[yawa]

Just Wow...

 

[Bonjour]

Go Fredi!

Didn't Kanoute almost retire a few years ago, after the Mali supporters tried to 'eat' the team after losing in a world cup qualifier in 2005? Or something along those lines..