6 replies to this topic

[jaybee1978]

Taken from bbc sport

Absences leave 2012 Africa Cup of Nations wide open
Comments

Share this page
2ShareFacebookTwitterPost categories: Football

Piers Edwards | 14:30 UK time, Friday, 20 January 2012
This month's Africa Cup of Nations is the most open tournament in years and as much about those that haven't made the finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as about those who have.

The absence of defending champions Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria means that the trophy will have a different name on it for the first time in 20 years - unless Tunisia win it, that is.

The Carthage Eagles, who lifted the trophy on home soil in 2004, are the only team at the finals to have won the competition since the early 1990s. In 1992, this year's favourites, Ivory Coast, beat Ghana in a final played in Senegal - and these three countries headline the leading acts at this month's tournament.

The Senegalese are the first in action, playing in Saturday's opening round of Group A matches, meaning that Newcastle United fans won't have to wait long to catch a first glimpse of their new number 9 - but whether the freescoring Papiss Demba Cisse starts against Zambia is open to question.


Senegal coach Amara Traore has top-quality strikers in the shape of Moussa Sow (last season's Lille hero who is now seemingly Fenerbahce-bound), Newcastle's Demba Ba, high-flying Montpellier forward Souleymane Camara and former Marseille man and current national captain Mamadou Niang - but five into three clearly doesn't go, so someone has to miss out.

Most bookmakers have Senegal at what seems a generous 6/1, with Ghana rated at 4/1 while Ivory Coast are the stand-out favourites at 6/4 - but whether they can handle this tag is another matter.

Ivory Coast are bookmakers' favourites, but come with a reputation as chokers
The Elephants earned a "chokers" tag following failures in 2006, 2008 and 2010 (fully deserving the label on the last occasion after they blew a 90th-minute lead in the quarter-finals against Algeria) and coach Francois Zahoui is fully aware of his side's previous mental failings, saying this week that the Ivorians' status as favourites is one "we need to manage psychologically better".

As Yaya Toure says, it's time to deliver and while Manchester City fans may hope the Elephants stumble early on so that he can help their nervy title campaign, long-suffering fans in Ivory Coast will only accept one result from this supposedly gilt-edged generation.

Any slip-up in a group containing Burkina Faso, Angola and Sudan could lead them to face Senegal in the quarters since the Teranga Lions should comfortably depose of Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Zambia in Group A. Indeed if all goes to plan, the Ivorians are set to meet likely Group D table-toppers Ghana in the Libreville final on 12 February.

The Black Stars look well-placed to win their first trophy since 1982 and enjoy that trusty blend of youth and experience - with old-timers like John Mensah and John Paintsil mixing with Asamoah Gyan (still only 26) and youngsters Andre "Dede" Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and Kojo Asamoah (who could do with a decent finals).

Coach Goran Stevanovic - who seems to have taken over from World Cup coach Milovan Rajevac effortlessly - makes no secret of his belief that his charges have the ability to be African champions and relishes the pressure in a way Ivorians appear not to.

While these may be the major players, although Morocco's Atlas Lions (boasting Premier League names in Marouane Chamakh and Adel Taarabt) look strong too, the supporting cast is just as intriguing.

All those involved with Zambian football are feeling raw emotions as the Chipolopolo contest a finals in an area where most of the national team died in a plane crash in 1993 - the plane coming down off the coast of Gabon en route to a game in Senegal who, fittingly perhaps, Zambia meet in their opening game.

Niger are among a trio of Cup of Nations debutants, along with Botswana and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea
Libya are also set to steal many headlines as a team representing a new nation comes out in new colours, with a new nickname, anthem and flag, and boasting former rebel soldiers among their number.

The newly named Mediterranean Knights meet an incredibly limited Equatorial Guinea side in Saturday's opening match, when a team that has never come close to qualifying for the Nations Cup makes its tournament debut.

Given that they lost their last competitive match 2-1 to Madagascar - a World Cup qualifier in November - and that their coach took charge just 18 days ago, any point is going to be welcome for a side whose naturalisation of foreign players has rankled many with genuine Equatoguinean heritage in the squad.

Some have been critical of taking the tournament to Equatorial Guinea, a country that has been criticised over its human rights record, and to Gabon, which put its oil wealth to such effect that the Central African nation once had the world's highest per capita consumption of champagne.

There is also the question of how many travelling fans will actually be there, given the problems many journalists have had acquiring visas, and whether we are set for another Nations Cup where the stands are depressingly empty for any game not involving the host.

The Equatoguineans are joined by Niger and Botswana as debutants at the finals, but it will be a major upset - albeit a most welcome one - should any of them get out of their groups.

For aside, obviously, from the absence of any repeat ofa Cabinda-style tragedy, what would be most welcome at these finals would be some decent games. Too often, recent Nations Cup matches have appeared one-sided affairs - and I can only recall four games with any fondness from the last finals (where, as discussed before, teams seemed to win through not because of their class but simply because one of them had to).

From a neutral's perspective, it would enjoyable if the big teams' absence leads to a more even playing field - one where teams that go behind have the wherewithal to fight back to win (as has happened just six times in the last 68 matches) - and if a new generation of stars can seize the opportunity this power vacuum leaves.

With Samuel Eto'o, Osaze Odemwingie and Ahmed Hassan among the notable absentees, can the likes of Alain Traore and Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Oussama Darragui (Tunisia), Modibo Maiga (Mali) and Alhassane Bangoura (Guinea) steal their thunder?

[johnarob]

some good games so far...todays was entertaining...morroco 1 v tunisia 2 and gabon 2 v niger 0

but jeez...they take no prisoners with their tackling.....some horrendous challenges and mostly it's yellow cards...very lenient refs

[jaybee1978]

I've not watched any of it unfortunately.

Senegal seem to have an abundance of top strikers though.

[jaybee1978]

The Ghana team from today

Ghana line-up: Adam Kwarasey, John Paintsil, Samuel Inkoom, John Boye, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Jordan Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan, Andre 'Dede' Ayew, Sulley Muntari.

I wonder if John Boye is nicknamed Walton?

[jaybee1978]

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea produced one of the all-time Africa Cup of Nations upsets when reaching the last eight and dumping Senegal out of the finals.

The National Lightning left it incredibly late to earn a 2-1 win over their supposedly illustrious foes.

After Randy opened the scoring in Bata, Senegal were facing elimination until Moussa Sow's 89th-minute equaliser.

But Kily produced a stunning 25-yard drive deep into added time to send a nation into raptures.

We were a little lucky to score in the last few seconds! It's fantastic for us and our supporters. We're very hopeful for the future. Now we want to beat Zambia because we want to finish top of the group.

The goal came in the 94th minute to spark frenzy among the 40,000 fans inside the Estadio de Bata, yet there was still time for Equatorial Guinea centre-back Laurence Doe to be sent off.

When the final whistle did evenutally blow three minutes later, Equatoguineans across the world were in dreamland while any watching neutrals were probably left similarly open-mouthed.

The result means Newcastle strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse will be back in Premier League action earlier than expected.

To put the win into context, the co-hosts' coach Gilson Paulo only met his squad three weeks ago as he was parachuted in to lead one of the lowest-ranked teams to ever contest a Nations Cup.

Lying 151st in Fifa's rankings and making their tournament debut, the National Lightning have made a mockery of the form guide, producing a gutsy display to knock out this year's third favourites.

Senegal came into the competition with Africa's best forward line but neither Cisse, Ba nor Dame Ndoye could take any of the presentable first-half chances that came their way.

Cisse's clever volley was well saved after 16 minutes by Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Danilo before Ba spurned a glorious opportunity as he dragged a perfect lay-off from impressive winger Issiar Dia wide.

Senegal fans must digest another Nations Cup failure Before the break, there was still time for Guirane Ndaw to sting Danilo's fingers with a 25-yard piledriver before Ba and Ndoye wasted yet more presentable chances.

All the while, Equatorial Guinea's defence had thrown themselves into every block with a passion that humbled their opponents.

After 62 minutes, Kily showed his quality when bending in a delicious cross that Randy - all alone at the back post and just yards from goal - was not going to miss.

Senegal had crumbled at the first sight of pressure and coach Amara Traore made instant changes, bringing on Moussa Sow and Mamadou Niang, the national captain who had been dropped to the bench.

Niang showed his class while flashing a difficult header wide as the hosts continued to frustrate the Senegalese, with Ben Konate and Doe working tirelessly to keep their side ahead.

I congratulate Equatorial Guinea for qualifying. We tried everything, I'm content for my players, they gave their all. I am frustrated though, as we came here to make an impact.

But with one minute of normal time left, Niang latched onto a free-kick that had spilled in the box and after Danilo blocked his low shot, Sow manoeuvred his body to acrobatically volley home.

Instead of holding on to the point that would have kept them in the finals, Senegal searched for a winner which almost came through Dame Ndiaye before Javier Balboa went close at the other end.

Then came an incredible finale when Kily killed a crossfield pass with his first touch before unleashing a thunderbolt that tore into the back of the net to spark an impromptu pitch invasion.

Unknown in Equatorial Guinea at the start of this month, Paulo has become a national hero while Senegal coach Traore faces an uncertain future after falling woefully short of his semi-final target.

Pointless from their first two games, the West Africans can no longer qualify - meaning Zambia will take Group A's last quarter-final place if they avoid defeat against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Libya - who drew 2-2 with the Chipolopolo earlier in the day - must beat Senegal and hope the Zambians lose if they are to make it through.

[sheeptastic]

Anyone watching the highlights of the African nations cup? I have just switched on after putting the wee spro......cherrubs to bed and seen an outrageous goal stemming from the most blatant handball you will ever see in your life, even worse than Maradonas against Engerland, I think it was Niger against Tunisia

[black dog]

sheeptastic, on 27 January 2012 - 10:26 PM, said:

Anyone watching the highlights of the African nations cup? I have just switched on after putting the wee spro......cherrubs to bed and seen an outrageous goal stemming from the most blatant handball you will ever see in your life, even worse than Maradonas against Engerland, I think it was Niger against Tunisia

I've watched a couple of live games Thusday & Friday...The standard is deplorable. The one thing that has really caught ma attention is the 'almost' lack of they damned annying Vuvuzela horn thingys...bloody annoying during the World Cup.