Africa Nations Cup Angola 2010 - The Biggest Football tournament in AFRICA!!!

It seems like just yesterday we were blogging about the finals of the African Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana.

But things move quickly in the world of football and we ask ourselves here, can our Super Eagles make history and win the Cup? I believe!!!

The tournament takes place in Angola from January 10th to January 31st, 2010.

The host nation of the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Angola, is confident their infrastructure will be ready in time for the tournament and CAF seems to agree after an inspection team dropped in and snooped around.

The country sees the football tournament as a catalyst for change.

Much of Angola's infrastructure was destroyed by a 27-year civil war. Therefore, it's seen by some as an ambitious choice to host the Cup.

But things can only get better.


Once again, football plays a part in restoring civic pride and establishing a sense of collective unity in a land ravaged by infighting.

2010 is shaping up to be quite the year in African football, no?

Groups:


Fixtures:

Hope to see a CIV - Cameroon final if possible

Angola races against time ahead African showpiece

WITH less than a month to the 2010 Africa Nations Cup in Angola, roads, airports and stadia remain uncompleted and not one ticket has gone on sale.

According to AFP, the government has reportedly spent over $1 billion building four new stadia in Luanda, Benguela, Lubango and Cabinda, and on repairing infrastructure largely destroyed by 27 years of civil war, which ended in 2002.

"It's going to be a race against time to get everything ready," a well placed source told AFP. "The pitch in Luanda has had no maintenance for weeks because of contractual issues and there are problems getting water into the stadium so the grass needs some serious work. Quite a few games are being played there, so it could be a major problem."

According to Public Works Minister, Higinio Carneiro, however, there is nothing to worry about. Carneiro told AFP: "The stadia will be ready. They're practically ready now, there will not be any difficulty hosting the tournament in January.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sports/article06//indexn3_html?pdate=171209&ptitle=Angola%20races%20against%20time%20ahead%20African%20showpiece&cpdate=171209

Group A


Angola

The Angola national football team is nicknamed Palancas Negras, which means 'The Black Antelopes.'
There will be undoubted pressure on host nation Angola as they enter the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, especially as recent form has been patchy under new coach Manuel Jose.

Angola’s qualification for the World Cup finals in 2006 proved one of the biggest shocks in recent African football history, but they have failed to build on that in recent times.

The achievement of 2006 came against the backdrop of a 30-year-old nation, mired in a brutal civil war until just a few years ago and still struggling with meagre infrastructure.

But the country’s football federation have long had a policy of seeking out talent with Angolan connections in the Diaspora in Europe, notably in former colonial power Portugal.

Several key players have emerged from outside of Angolan club structures to bolster the side, although ironically most from the obscurity of minor clubs.

They achieved their best-ever result in the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing out to eventual winners Egypt.

This will be their third tournament finals in a row and their best chance at success.


Mali

The Mali national football team is better known as the Les Aigles (The Eagles)
Mali have a curious record at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, having only made five appearances in the tournament's history, but reaching the semifinals on four of those occasions.

The record was four from four before they bowed out in the first round of the 2008 championship in Ghana, though that was only on goal-difference in a tough group that also included Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Their best-ever showing was way back in 1972 when they lost 3-2 in the final to Congo. They next appeared in the championship in 1994 in Tunisia, when they lost in the semifinals to Zambia.

They again made the last four in 2002, an event they hosted, but lost comprehensively to eventual champions Cameroon in the semis.

They were back again two years later in Tunisia, but this time it was Morocco who put paid to their championship ambitions in the semifinals.
However, boasting performers as talented as Sammy Traore, Djimi Traore, Mohamed Sissoko, Seydou Keita and Cheick Oumar Dabo, Mali certainly appear to have the resources to prosper on the big stage, particularly with instinctive finisher Frederic Kanoute and inspirational captain Mahamadou Diarra leading from the front.


Malawi

Malawi’s national team is known as the Flames and are currently ranked 90th on the FIFA rankings list.
Malawi will be making just their second trip to the Africa Cup of Nations finals when they take part in the tournament in Angola.

There only previous showing was at the 1984 event in Cote d'Ivoire, when they bowed out in the first round, but certainly did not embarrass themselves.

After an opening match 3-0 defeat to Algeria, the Malawians held Nigeria to a 2-2 draw, before going down by a slender 1-0 margin to Ghana.

The team coached by Kinnah Phiri will be one of the less fancied sides in the 2010 event, but they showed with a brave 1-1 draw against a full-strength Cote d'Ivoire in a World Cup qualifier recently that they can compete with the very best.
A large portion of the national team play their football at home, or in neighbouring South Africa, with a fair number also scattered across Europe, in countries such as Russia, Denmark and Sweden. The Malawi Premier Division was established in 1986 and is made up of 15 teams. Big Bullets have won the most titles (10), while the current champions are Silver Strikers.



Algeria
[img]http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Algeria~2.jpg[/img]
Algeria are enjoying a major revival in their football having qualified for the 2010 World Cup after a tense play-off with Egypt.

This resurgence has come mainly off the back of a change in FIFA ruling that allows players over the age of 21 who have turned out for countries in junior football, to switch allegiances if they qualify for another senior international team.

This has seen an influx of French-born players into the Algerian squad, who may well now be dark horses for the 2010 Nations Cup event.
It would be their second continental triumph following success in the 1990 tournament that they hosted, having previously been runners-up in 1980 in Nigeria.

The 1980s was very much the Golden Age of Algerian football with two World Cup appearances (1982 and 1986), as well as trips to at the very leas the semifinals of the Nations Cup in five out of six tournaments, before finally claiming that win at the turn of the 90s.

Their failure to win a place at the 2006 tournament in Tunisia ended a run of 13 qualifications in a row, though they did not get past the quarterfinals after their win in 1990

Group B


Ivory Coast
[img]http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Ivory_Coast~4.jpg[/img]
Ivory Coast have reached the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations on no less than eight occasion, but have just a single continental triumph to show for their efforts.
That is a poor conversion rate that once again came to the fore in the 2008 tournament in Ghana when they brushed all before them aside in reaching the last four, but were then hammered 4-1 by Egypt in their semi.

It was a trend that was set way back in 1965 when they first entered the competition and went on to reach the semifinals in their first three tournaments.

A lean period followed until 1986 when they were again in the last four, but they finally made the breakthrough in 1992, winning the tournament in Senegal with a marathon 11-10 shoot-out win over Ghana in the final.

Another semifinal showing came in 1994, before a spell of limited success followed up until the 2006 tournament in Egypt, where they lost to the hosts in the final. This time it was they who were on the wrong end of a shoot-out result.

Amazingly though, they did need a 12-11 shoot-out result to beat Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

They will be hot favourites going into the 2010 championship in Angola, but will be wary of semifinal defeats once again, knowing that early tournament form counts for nothing if you cannot grind out the results at the knockout stage.

The country’s most famous footballer is surely Chelsea star Didier Drogba, who is the nations leading goal scorer with 33 goals to date. However, an increasing number of Ivory Coast stars have made their name in the world’s top leagues - Kolo Toure was an integral part of the Arsenal team before a move to Manchester City, as is his brother Yaya Toure [/b]at Barcelona.
Other top Ivorian players include Emmanuel Eboué Didier Zokora (the country’s most capped international), as well as Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou.




[b]Burkina Faso
[img]http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Burkina_Faso~1.jpg[/img]
Burkina Faso have been regular visitors to the Africa Cup of Nations finals since the mid-1990s, but the only time they have been out of the first round was when they hosted the tournament in 1998.

On that occasion they made it to the semifinals, losing there to eventual champions Egypt, and then going on to fall short in the third/fourth-place play-off in an amazing game with DR Congo that finished 4-4, but 4-1 to the Congolese on penalties.

The first time the country qualified for the continental show-piece was in 1978 when they were then known as Upper Volta, but it would be another 18 years before they made a return visit as they went out in the first round in South Africa in 1996.

They qualified for the next four tournaments up to 2004, but were missing from both the 2006 and 2008 tournaments.


Ghana
[img]http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Ghana~7.jpg[/img]
It would be a surprising fact to many that Ghana have not won Africa's top prize for the past 28 years, and have in fact featured in only one final since 1982.

Given the strength of football in the west African country, it must surely be classed as underachievement and is something the Class of 2010 will hope to out right.

There was much expected for the side when they hosted the event two years ago, but despite some positive early signs, they were outclassed in the semfinals by Cameroon and had to settle for third place.

All-in-all the Black Stars have won four Nations Cup titles, the first two coming abck-to-back in 1963 and 1965, with two more in quick succession in 1978 and 1982.

But after that it makes fir poor reading, with just a final appearance in 1992 to show for their efforts, where they eventually went down in a mammoth penalty shoot-out to Cote d'Ivoire.

Recent form has been scratchy, though they did qualify for a first-ever World Cup finals in 2006 and followed that up with qualification for the 2010 event in South Africa as well. .


Togo

Indeed, they have won just two of their 18 finals matches to date, conceding an unhealthy 32 goals in the process.

They qualified for their first tournament in 1972, re-appearing again only in 1984, before going underground again.

They have at least managed to bring some consistency to their appearances, having now qualified for five of the last seven tournaments, though they were conspicuous by their absence in 2008 in Ghana, especially having secured a shock berth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The chance to make history and book a first quarterfinals appearance will be what drived the Togolese in Angola, though they were far from convincing in qualifying and really too heavily on goals from their one true world-class star, Emmanuel Adebayor.

Group C   

Egypt

Egypt are the undisputed kings of the Africa Cup of Nations having claimed a record six titles, including the last two, and they will be amongst the favourites again in Angola.

They have been quarterfinalists at least in each of the last eight tournaments bar one (2004), have they have managed to convert their dominance at club level on the continent over the past decade or so into success at national team level.

After claiming the first two tournaments in 1957 and 1959, there followed a clutch of semifinal showings as they reached that stage in six of the next 11 championships, without going any further.

They broke their long winless streak by claiming the 1986 championship, and repeated that 12 years later by beating South Africa in the 1998 final.

There followed a slight lull in performances before they confidently won the event they hosted in 2006, before repeating the performance two years later in Ghana.

What price a hat-trick?


Nigeria
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Nigeria~7.jpg[/img]
Arguably the 'nearly-men' of African football, Nigeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions, but have been runners up a further four times.
In fact, they have been semifinalists 12 times, and their two victories signify an extremely poor conversion rate from there.

They first appeared in the tournament in 1963, when they bowed out in the first round, before having to wait until 1976 for their next showing, this time reaching the last four.

There followed a prosperous time in the country's football as they claimed the title in 1980 and 1994, finishing runners-up on three more occasions in between.

They chose not to particpate in the 1996 event in South Africa for political reasons, and were subsequently suspended from the 1998 tournament too.

Since then they have finished as runners-up (2000), semifinalists (2002, 2004, 2006) and quarterfinalists (2008), a worrying backward trend for the Super Eagles.


Mozambique
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Mozambique~2.jpg[/img]
Mozambique will be featuring in their fourth Africa Cup of Nations finals at the tournament in Angola, hoping to register a first win in the competition.

Their three previous visits have all ended in first round exits, with just one draw and eight defeats to show for their troubles.

They did feature in consecutive tournaments in 1996 and 1998, but for a country ravaged by civil war, that was about as good as it got.

There first showing came in 1986 when they lost all three matches without scoring a goal. In fact, they have netted just twice while conceding 18 in their nine matches to date.

There will be hope that the Class of 2010 can do better, under Dutch coach Mart Nooij they have managed to put together some fine results of late, including beating Tunisia in their final World Cup qualifier in November.

Benin
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Benin~2.jpg[/img]
Benin can make history at the 2010 Nations Cup by collecting their first-ever point at the competition after two previous finals appearances have yielded six straight defeats.

Their small country size and population has made it difficult for them to be a regular contender in African competition but they have made better use of their growing contingent of foreign-based players.

Benin also hosted the 2005 African Youth Championship and their under-20 side qualified for that tournament in third place for the World Youth Championships in the Netherlands the same year.

Their first appearance came in the 2004 tournament in Tunsia, where they lost all three matches, but got a late consolation goal against Nigeria in their very last match through Moussa Latoundji to record a first finals goal.

They would have been hoping for better when they arrived in Ghana for the 2008 tournament, but unfortunately for them it was more of the same, three defeats in a row and just a single goal scored, this time through Nigerian-born striker Razak Omotoyossi against Cote d'Ivoire.

Group D   

Cameroon
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Cameroon~9.jpg[/img]
Four-time winners Cameroon go into the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in red-hot form and looking to make up for the disappointment of their Final defeat in the last competition in Ghana two years ago.

They went down 1-0 to Egypt on that occasion, but under new French coach Paul Le Guen there is a new-found confidence in the Indomitable Lions and a belief that this could be their year.

One of the traditional powerhouses of the continent, they have qualified for all but one (1994) finals tournament since 1982, and in that time managed all four of their wins.

The 1980s were a fantastic period for the side and they claimed the 1984 and 1998 tournaments, with the core of that team going on to perform so admirably at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The 1990s were not much to write home about, but the turn of the centruty saw the side once again dominate as they won consecutive championships in 2000 and 2002.

A couple of quarterfinal appearances followed, but for that finals disappointment in Ghana, which will be a spur if ever they needed one for the Class of 2010 to go all the way.


Gabon
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Gabon~2.jpg[/img]
Gabon's most successful spell in their country's history came between 1994 and 2000, when they qualified for three out of the four Africa Cup of Nations finals, reaching the quarterfinals in 1996.

And they are something of a surprise as qualifiers for the 2010 event, but appear to have found a new lease of life and ran Cameroon close for World Cup qualification in their pool.

They have managed just one win in their seven finals matches to date, that a 2-0 success against a much-fancied Zaire side in 1996, but otherwise it has been hard slog for the country at the continental showpiece.


Zambia
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Zambia~2.jpg[/img]
Zambia have gone out in the first round of five of the last six Africa Cup of Nations finals, having qualified for the event at all in 2004.

It is a frustrating run for a country that has a proud history in the tournament, though they have yet to put their name on the winners trophy yet, despite some close shaves.

They were runners-up in the 1974 competition, losing in the final to Zaire after a replay, and followed that up with another runners-up finish in 1994, the year after a tragic plane crash had killed 18 members of the playing squad.

There have also been some semifinal placings (1982, 1990 and 1996), but recent history has not been kind to Chipolopolo.


Tunisia
[img]http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/images/phase2_images/Tunisia~2.jpg[/img]
Tunisia were a power in the early years of the Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the semifinals at their first try in 1962 and finishing runners-up in 1965.

But there followed 31 barren years, punctuated only by a semifinal appearance in 1978 and just two more first round exits.

They finished runners-up to hosts South Africa in 1996, and followed that up with a quarterfinal showing in 1998 and the semifinals in 2000.

But the country's finest hour in the competition came in 2004 as they beat Morocco 2-1 in the final of a tournament they hosted to achieve a maiden continental success.

Since then they have had a pair of quarterfinal finishes, and will be hoping to do better than that in Angola, to try and make up for the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup place on the final day of qualifying. They will play their 50th finals match in their first game in Angola.

CIV for final - Chelsea in soup

Vote by heart: Nigeria.

If I consider current form, CIV, no doubt.

Dream final: CIV Vs Nigeria

In a flash back, Egypt won the nations cup in B.Faso in1998 having failed to qualify for the w/cup in France. This same Egypt that is angry of not making it to the mundial will come to this ACN with full might. Do not underrate them.

*Bump*








































Awesome thread is awesome.

A little more than a week to go. . .

Nigeria to win . . .

none of CIV, Cameroun nor Ghana would, if Nigeria doesnt . . .

anyone wanna bet ?

Very interesting. . .

Happy New Year!!!

Cote D’Ivoire team arrives in TZ tomorrow

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is part of the Cote D`ivoire national team, The Elephants that arrives in Dr es Saalam, Tanzania tomorrow (Saturday) to pitch camp ahead of the Orange CAN 2010 in Angola.
The 50-man delegation including players and officials is expected to arrive in the afternoon before their first build-up against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Monday at the National Stadium.
The secretary general of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Fredrick Mwakalebela, told Cafonline.com that Cote D’Ivoire Coast that will also represent the continent in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa will also battle Rwanda at the same venue three days after the Monday game. Mwakalebela said the two matches, which form part of Cote d’Ivoire’s build up for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations finals will also be a showcase for Tanzania fans and players alike.

http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations-angola_2010/news/4139-cote-divoire-team-arrives-in-tz-tomorrow.html

Orange CAN match tickets now on sale

The local organizing committee of the Orange CAN, COCAN, has started the sale of match tickets for the Orange CAN, which can be purchased through two local banks across Angola. The banks are the BPC and BAI.

A total of 450, 000 tickets for general seats, which is about 50% of the total match tickets, will be on sale.

The hospitality tickets are available at the Local Organizing Committee of the Orange Africa of Nations, COCAN 2010.

The banks are open to public for ticket sales until January 30 of 2010, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 16:00, and Saturdays until 12:30.

http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations-angola_2010/news/4131-orange-can-match-tickets-now-on-sale.html

Players to miss the CAN '10 because of injury so far:

John Mensah (GHA)
Andre Makanga (ANG)
John Pantsil (GHA)
Benoit Assou-Ekotto (CAM)

Dr Kitaun:

Nigeria to win . . .

none of CIV, Cameroun nor Ghana would, if Nigeria doesnt . . .

anyone wanna bet ?

Nigeria to win?I do not know about that but i really feel this is an African tourney that will underline the fact that there are no longer minnows in African footie.I expectc to see Angola in the semi propelled by home support.

Who will win?I will hold my horse till the first round of matches.

Team list - The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon

Idrissu Kameni  (Espanyol - SPA)
Augustine Binya (Xamas - SWI)
Julio Nkoulou (Monaco - FRA)
Rigobert Song (Trab - TUR)
Aurellien Chedjou (Lille - FRA)
Alex Song (Arsenal - ENG)
Joel Nguemo (Celtic - SCO)
Njitap Geremie (Newc - ENG)
Eto'o Fils (Inter - ITA)
Emana Achille (Betis - SPA)
Jean Maloun (Lyon - FRA)
Henri Bedimo (Chax - FRA)
Tchoyi Somen (Salz - AUS)
Paul Alo'o (Nancy - FRA)
Achille Webo (Mall - SPA)
Hamidou Soleymanou (Kays - TUR)
Mahamadou Idrissou (Frei - GER)
Eyong Takang (Ajax - HOL)
Stephen Mbia (Mar - FRA)
Mandjeck Constant (Kai - GER)
Joel Matip (Sch - GER)
Roland Ndy Assembe (Val - FRA)
Andre Bikey (Bur - ENG)

Don't be fooled by the "ordinariness" of this squad, they are one solid unit. . . . watch out for Ajax & Schalke guys.

Sitting and watching 9ja-CIV 2006 Nations Cup semis as I type, a match which we lost to a solitary Drogba strike apart from been outplayed. A match which was Okocha's bow for the Super Eagles.
Fast forward to 2008 and another group stage defeat by the same margin and to the same team, a draw with Mali, a scrappy win over Benin before an eventual exit by a 10 man Ghana team to earn the moniker 'Super Chickens'.
Now that we are 10 days away from our first match in Angola against the defending champions, Egypt, I do not see it getting better but rather worse seeing the Eagles have only gotten weaker since 2004 while teams like fellow 2010 WC finalists Cameroon Ghana and CIV have become stronger. A team that loaded with bench warmers and half fit players has no business @ an African Nation's Cup which is more of grit, power and skill over tactics. I pray we are not disgraced but if the Eagles get as much as a foothold in Angola, it is more of the indomitable Nigerian spirit and players using it as a platform for better football contracts rather than Amodu's technical savvy.

TRUST NIGERIANS AND THEIR DELUSIONS aka MISPLACED PATRIOTISM!
How can 60% be given to a team filled with bench warmers and half fit players to win the Nations Cup?
Either all the other teams will lie down for the Eagles to trample over them [like Nigerians do for their leaders] and go lift the Cup or the Eagles will storm Angola 'Shina Rambo' style and snatch the trophy home.

as for me i am optimistic that nigeria will get some where in the nations cup but nigeria wining it is a fools dream i culd be proven wrong though but all the sign are pointing to failure in the nations cup

my bet is on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon any day, any time!

Go Naija eagles,

ochukoccna:

TRUST NIGERIANS AND THEIR DELUSIONS aka MISPLACED PATRIOTISM!
How can 60% be given to a team filled with bench warmers and half fit players to win the Nations Cup?
Either all the other teams will lie down for the Eagles to trample over them [like Nigerians do for their leaders] and go lift the Cup or the Eagles will storm Angola 'Shina Rambo' style and snatch the trophy home.

it was a sample of only 10 votes.
meaning it was a very poor statistics to use as a judgemental basis.
nonetheless as a nigerian i 'pray'we win but as person never expect us to

Super Eagles: The Search For Glory!!!

It’s the Year 2010 and the Super Eagles of NIGERIA will have their hands full when they go in search of Glory. First up will be the 2010 African Cup of Nations which kicks off in the Southern African nation of Angola from January 10-31.

Though, the Tunisia ‘94 Nations Cup champions were not seeded in their group, they are one of the favoured teams to lift the trophy in Angola. It can be recalled that the Berti Vogts-tutoured Super Eagles were bundled out in the quarter-finals by the Black Stars of Ghana who hosted the last edition of the tournament.

In this years tournament their task has been made even more difficult as they have been drawn in the same group as 2 time defending champions, The Pharaohs of Egypt. The Super Eagles will have to cross the hurdles of the dreaded Egyptians in the Group’s opening game.
EGYPT VS NIGERIA
Match Time: 4pm 
Match Date: 01-12-2010
Match Venue: Complexo da Sr. da Graça [Benguela]

READ MORE AT http://www.myhimagazine.com/?p=83

Like I said on another thread,I don't think it's right for Amodu to be playing Russian roulette with Chinedu obasi Ogbuke's inclusion in the squad as in my mind we have about two defenders too many in that squad,he should drop one of them and stamp Obasi's name on that list NOW and not make it dependent on if Obafemi Martin's does/does not recover from injury fully or whther or not Martins will have a court case in the UK at the time of the nations cup.
We need more striking options than Amodu has provided in his list

Also,I'm not feeling his midfield selection,I know how compact our midfield used to be in the Jay Jay days,will Amodu get there

Cant wait to see Ivory coast lift the trophy

NAIJA NO FIT WIN