naija no come

robosky02:

Group D: Ghana, Egypt, Mali, Uganda

The return of Egypt to a Nations Cup seems long overdue. Much has happened in Egypt, and to its football status since the national team won a third continental title on the trot in 2010 and then startlingly failed to qualify for any of the next three events. Political turmoil played a part, but under the sage Hector Cuper as manager, a revival is afoot. Not too many defenders in Gabon will keep up with the speedy Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah.

Ghana, finalists in 2015, have Asamoah Gyan, pictured, leading them, and chasing a 100th cap by the end of a group stage that they would hope to master without too much alarm.

Mali look diminished from the force they were when they reached successive semi-finals in 2012 and 2013, and Uganda’s absence from the event has been so long that they must risk feeling overawed.

The Ugandan Cranes were last at a Nations Cup 39 years ago, as hosts. They won the silver medal, but it has collected a lot of dust in their trophy cabinet since.

no shaking my egypt fans we are going fr the trophy fr the sixth time #unbeating.

I support algeria

Ghana all the way

I will be supporting Ghana this time around. I don't want Andre Ayew to cry like he did at the last AFCON. The thing really touch me... I no go lie.
GO BLACK STARS! !!!!

go in Nigeria

Cameroon all the way

10 min draw sure for AFCON

so Nigeria is on the bench

Nothing concern us

viktor88:
10 min draw sure for AFCON

you be better guy 10k stake!

Senegal will be Ideal

Fixtures and kick-off times for matches at the Africa Cup on Nations -

Saturday January 14

Group A

Gabon v Guinea-Bissau 8pm

Burkina Faso v Cameroon 11pm

Africa’s finest go in search of glory

Held every two years, the Caf Africa Cup of Nations sets pulses racing across the entire continent and brings joy to the country that lifts the coveted trophy.

The prestigious competition is being held this year in Gabon, which is putting on its best front in hosting the event. Aside from becoming kings of Africa, an honour currently enjoyed by 2015 winners Côte d’Ivoire, the 16 nations taking part have another objective in mind: to represent the Caf at the Fifa Confederations Cup Russia 2017 this coming June.

Running the rule over the leading contenders and the dark horses, not to mention the players looking to cement their reputations and the lesser-known names intent on announcing themselves to the wider world, supersport.com looks ahead to the tournament, which kicks off in Libreville on Saturday.
THE FAVOURITES

While three-time African champions Nigeria are absent from the tournament line-up, along with fellow former winners South Africa, Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan and Zambia, all the other sides that have hoisted the trophy aloft are present and correct in Gabon, among them defending champions Côte d’Ivoire. Hunting for their third continental title, Les Elephants face two other former winners in the group phase, one of whom is Morocco, who are coached by none other than Herve Renard, the man who led the Ivorians to glory in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, three years after steering Zambia to the title.

Having won the trophy on four occasions, Cameroon are intent on reviving their fortunes following Samuel Eto’o’s departure from the international scene. The Indomitable Lions will need to find their form quickly if they are to advance from a group that also features 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso and hosts Gabon, who will be banking on the support of their fans and on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reprising the goalscoring prowess he has shown over the last two years.

Africa’s leading performers at the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil™, Algeria have made a slow start to the final round of qualifying for Russia 2018 and will be anxious to rediscover their best form as they go in pursuit of a second continental crown. Les Fennecs also face stiff opposition in the group phase, with Senegal’s much vaunted attack and Tunisia’s organisation and tactical discipline representing the main threats to their progress.

THE OUTSIDERS

Egypt are lacking nothing in motivation as they prepare to make their 23rd Africa Cup of Nations appearance. Having won the title a record seven times, the Pharaohs are intent on bringing back the good times after missing the last three editions. The Egyptians will not have it easy on their return, however, with continental heavyweights Mali and four-time winners Ghana figuring among their group opponents.

African champions in 1968 and 1974, Congo DR are harbouring hopes of a third trophy win, not least because they possess a squad packed with talented and experienced players running out for domestic standard bearers TP Mazembe and leading European clubs.

Just qualifying for Gabon 2017 was an achievement in itself for Uganda, Togo and Zimbabwe, three nations who have been unaccustomed to mixing it with Africa’s best in recent years. Last but not least, Guinea-Bissau have already secured a place in the tournament’s annals by qualifying for the very first time. Os Djurtus will be thrust straight into the spotlight, having been handed the honour of taking on the hosts in the opening match at the Stade de l’Amitie in Libreville.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Winners of ten of the last 14 Caf African Footballer of the Year awards, Eto’o, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba will be looking on from the sidelines, having all retired from international football. Happily, the last two players to collect the accolade will both be in action.

The 2015 recipient, Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will be carrying the hopes of the host nation and will look to fulfil them by reproducing the form that has made him one of the leading players in the Bundesliga. Riyad Mahrez, the man who succeeded him as Africa’s top performer, has collected a string of individual honours since helping Leicester City secure the Premier League crown last season, among them the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. The Algerian livewire will hope to add yet more silverware to his trophy cabinet by inspiring his country to the African title.

Aubameyang and Mahrez were mere youngsters dreaming of the big time when Emmanuel Adebayor was voted the continent’s outstanding player in 2008. Eight years on, the 33-year-old former Arsenal and Real Madrid goalscorer is without a club. Driven by a new challenge, however, Adebayor has worked hard on his fitness in a bid to fire Togo’s campaign.

A clutch of other promising players will be aiming to pick up the baton from their distinguished elders, such as Ivorian duo Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier and Cameroon’s Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Aboubakar. Egyptian front man Mohamed Salah has already made a name for himself in Europe thanks to his exploits with Basel, Fiorentina, Chelsea and now Roma. The experienced Salah can count on the support of a rising star of African football in 19-year-old Ramadan Sobhi, who recently signed for Stoke City after impressing at Al Ahly.

Also worth keeping a close eye on are the explosive attacks possessed by Congo DR, for whom Cedric Bakambu, Dieumerci Mbokani, Jeremy Bokila and the promising Jonathan Bolingi have all excelled, and Senegal. Lions of Teranga coach Aliou Cisse has the likes of the experienced Moussa Sow and Mame Biram Diouf at his disposal, as well as in-form attacking midfielder Sadio Mane, currently starring in the Premier League with Liverpool.

GROUPS

Group A: Gabon, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau
Group B: Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe
Group C: Côte d’Ivoire, Congo DR, Morocco, Togo
Group D: Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda

Tournament facts

The Caf Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 is the 31st edition of the competition
Dates: 14 January-5 February 2017
Host cities: Libreville, Franceville, Port Gentil and Oyem
The winners will represent Africa at the Fifa Confederations Cup Russia 2017

For more ... http://sportsgolive.com/live-football/

[b][/b] Where Nigeria dey please..

The stadiums/venues . This is what am talking about good design suitable for Gabon's equatorial conditions. This WORKS.... SPACE, FORM AND ORDER.

1. Stade Oyem

2. Port Gentil Capacity 20 000 this stadium looks better than Uyo. FACT.

Stade d'Angondjé
Am not a big fan of these Sino/Chinese/Fong Kong Designs this nonsence looks the same and its all over some African countries excluding SOUTH AFRICA. They all have this UGLY BIG ARCH AND THE ATHLETICS TRACK. Kak/shit design indeed.

JAPANESE AND CHINESE should stick to designing office buildings and other staff and LEAVE Stadiums and arenas alone. They can't design these

Africans up north and COLONIAL MENTALITY. They call themselves Francophone.
3. Franceville

Am not sure why they built this one They like it its fine for them. For me it forms part of the UGLIES. Thats just me the Southy.

HAVING WORKED ON STADIUMS IN UK WEMBLEY, EMIRATES AND THEN AT HOME IN Z.A. 2010 STADIUMS I KNOW HOW A SOCCER STADIUM SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

Happy Gabs Look at the other guy he has a French flag COLONIAL MENTAILTY in equatorial africa

Quick History on Gabon ,they are Bantu speakers are related to black people around Southern Cameroon, Southern Central African Republic, Southern Uganda,Southern Kenya,
DRC, Congo Brazza, Equatorial Guinea,Sao Tome n Principe, Angola, Zambia,Malawi,Tanzania,SW Madagascar,Rwanda,Burundi,Mozambique,Swaziland,Botswana,South Africa,Namibia,Lesotho, Mauritius islands.

History shows that some Southern India people carry Bantu African blood.

There are over 160 million blacks in Latin Americas over 120 million of those have Bantu roots.
By Latin I mean Portugese, French and Spanish Americas and Caribbean.

Regions with significant populations excluding USA and British Carribean islands.

Brazil
97 million (16 million pure black) today Brazil is over 50% black.

Colombia
10 million

Haiti
9 million

Dominican Republic
8.1 million

Cuba
4.1 million

Venezuela
2.6-7.0 million

Peru
1.8 million

Puerto Rico
0.27 million

Nicaragua
0.53 million

Panama
0.47 million

Ecuador
0.43 million

Honduras
0.15 million

Uruguay
0.13 million

Bolivia
0.1 million

Languages

Portuguese, Spanish, French, and several creoles

Religion

Predominantly Christian (mainly Roman Catholic); minorities practicing Judaism,
Islam, or no religion

Related ethnic groups

sub-Saharan- mainly Bantu Africa.

Gabonese stars expected to shine this AFCON 2017.

Lemina is ARSENALS TARGET and might bench Iwobi.
Auba is linked with many BIG TEAMS.

Gabonese young stars...its good to the big leagues are buying players from countries like Gabon.

This guy chose SPAIN over Gabon Gabon like The Congos are losing players to Europe.

AmenhotepZuid:
Gabonese stars expected to shine this AFCON 2017.

Lemina is ARSENALS TARGET and might bench Iwobi.
Auba is linked with many BIG TEAMS.

this guy sub iwobi lol

if I gave u a list of Nigerian youth players under arsenals book hu are far better than this joke

Fuvck you're A joke you're trying to brag to me about nigerian boys in ARSENAL youth team what happened to Enyimba or Ikorodu village boy
Hence I said you guys suffer from COLONIAL MENTALITY, my sin now was counting Gabonese players abroad. Your JEALOUSY cripped in VILLAGE BOY.

YOU GUYS AND JEALOUSY ARE TWINS.

You shy away when we talk DEVELOPMENT and serious staff and jump in when we talk small staff like soccer. Gabon has better stadiums than your VILLAGE/nigeria.FACT.

PROVERBZ:
this guy sub iwobi lol

if I gave u a list of Nigerian youth players under arsenals book hu are far better than this joke

This opening ceremony should have been made free na. See empty seats everywhere.

That Tina girl though