Wacky 2010 African Qualifiers

Published 07/06/2008 - 4:31 a.m. GMT



Thank the football gods for the break in this rather unpredictable 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers phase. With the exception of Nigeria securing a spot, the remaining 19 are still up for grabs. That might be a good thing for true football purist and neutral fans but, if you are Cameroonian, Ghanaian, Senegalese or Egyptian you are sitting on pins and needles after chewing off your fingernails and pulling out your hair.
It will take a very brave individual to predict who will survive and sail through to the second and final round. To sweeten the pot, bet your house and maybe throw in your second wife if you so dare. Based on what has already transpired, I am not ashamed to emphatically announce that I harbor no such bravery. I love all three of my wives and I believe that I am logically on point and usually sensible. If nothing else, I hold on to the motto, once bitten twice shy.
How can anyone bet against Gabon, Rwanda, or Cape Verde making it, unless you have been watching too many Nollywood movies and you believe in all that spiritual mambo jumbo.
Ok, fine. Ghana has Muntari and Essien. Cameroon has Eto’o, etc. But guess what? By the time match day 5 and 6 rolls around, all the major European leagues will be in full swing and who is to say that some of these players will not revert to their “prima donna” attitudes, or worse, suffer major injuries or the customary country versus club war. Ok, it is a FIFA international match day, give me a break! Money over matters.
Anyway, let’s try and make sense of these Qualifiers and where each country stands at this juncture. Bear in mind that the group winners, along with the 8 best second place finishers will qualify. Oops! Hold on, you thought it was that easy, it gets better.
Read more @
http://news.allsoccerafrica.com/index.cfm
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Nigeria Struggle at S.Leone

Published 06/07/2008 - 6:20 p.m. GMT

Match day two of the Fifa World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers continues with more shocking scorelines in matches involving the so-called big power houses in Africa.

, Read More http://news.allsoccerafrica.com/section.cfm?sectionID=282
www.allsoccerafrica.com

With less than eight weeks before the start of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers, a handful of African Football Associations are in total disarray. What is shocking is that among this list are two of the continents power houses, Nigeria and Senegal.

The case of Nigeria

After a disappointing performance of the Super Eagles at the Cup of Nations Ghana 2008, Berti Vogts contract was terminated. The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) then presented an interim coach, James Peters, stating that the technical crew needed more time to make a final decision on the head coach. By all indications, the NFA is leaning towards hiring a local coach. It has been over a month now, and two of the favorite names on the short list have moved on.

Augustine Eguavoen is now in South Africa as head coach for the struggling South African side Black Leopards. Stephen Keshi is rumored to be heading to Mali as the new national team coach. That leaves Daniel Amokachi and Samson Siasia on the short list of local coaches.

Why the NFA chose this path is simply mind boggling. The World Cup is coming to Africa and the NFA don miss road!

Read More @ http://news.allsoccerafrica.com/article.cfm?articleID=21727

Beyond 90 Minutes
03/02/2008 - 5:01 p.m. GMT -- by Maria


The Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008 heralded a new beginning for me. I now have more than a superficial interest in the beautiful African game, beyond watching 22 sexy men maneuvering the “wawa aba” up and down a pitch. For three straight weeks in January and February, my consumption of soccer was indulgent to say the least.

Withdrawal from the intense, high soccer enjoyment has been agonizing. Certainly the degree of my addiction is reflected in my dedication to following post-Africa Cup of Nations drama and intrigue, and above all, count down the days to the next Africa Cup.

When the new caretaker coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria was announced on February 29, 2008, I said to myself: Whoa! Here comes drama. These so-called technical NFA officials who claim to have deliberated long and hard over the next coach after Berti Vogts dismissal, are just pulling the wool over peoples eyes! The NFA has been called No, [Read More] http://news.allsoccerafrica.com/blogSection.cfm?sectionID=328

Folks interesting write-up from allsoccerafrica.com

In the spirit of learning, constructive criticism, and in support of publicly stated and shared objectives - qualification and historic performance at FIFA 2010 and the long term rejuvenation of Nigerian football, I humbly propose/offer these unsolicited items/issues/concerns/observations for public debate and constructive action.


First things first.

Amongst other items involved in reforming or dissolving the NFA, whoever hired Bert Vogts has to explain the logic/criteria behind his hiring. We all need to learn. We need to understand these people’s assumptions, fallacies, presumptions, decision context and /or background etc. Fully understand their motives. Put things (checks and balances) in place to guard against this kind of hiring ever occurring. Then, fire the people involved. Damn the consequences. With all the current characters still involved, I publicly state it here that we will not qualify for the 2010 world cup regardless of the coach (FC, IC or hybrid). Realistically, we must know what the stated motives for hiring this failed person as coach of the national team. I will leave the unstated motives to all kinds of permutations by different observers. I am certain the NFA will clam up and blame everyone but themselves for this predictable fiasco. This Nations Cup has been the lowest point in a long time for Nigerian football. We must hold people accountable for decisions they make. From now on, you must tie your fate to decisions made by you and your subordinates.



I offer one observation.
Read more@

http://news.allsoccerafrica.com/article.cfm?articleID=21600

All Soccer Africa invites you to take part in the first ever Nations Cup Fantasy Soccer Tournament.
www.allsoccerafrica.com

For the millions of you yearning for the chance to test your knowledge of African footballers and show your nationalistic pride, you will now have the forum to do so.

The Nations Cup Fantasy Soccer Tournament will allow you to root your team to victory, while participating in a competition with other fans from across the globe for cash prizes.
www.allsoccerafrica.com

Do you have what it takes to topple the competition? This is your opportunity to put your knowledge and management skills to the test. With players like Drogba, Eto’o, Kanu, Kanoute, Aboutrika and Essien, who do you select?

You will have the opportunity to be the first holder of a Nations Cup Fantasy Soccer Tournament title in addition to winning cash prizes.

Depends on region/ country.
Na which country you dey refer to?

Are you 100% sure that NTA will show the game in the U.S with all the issues on rights.
AIT got into hot water trying that stuff few years back. Will be nice if NTA is permitted to show the game outside Naija.

All my dawgs in New York/New Jersey / CT, all roads lead to 590 Grandconcourse in the Bronx.
The place rocks!

Looking for folks for a nairaland mini league at www.allsoccerafrica.com.
Give me a holla if you are in so i can invite you to my mini League.

Folks Africa is on blast. Finally a Fantasy tournament based on the African Nations Cup.
I just signed and I am excited thus spreading the word. One thing is for sure, Ghana 2008 is no easy pick.
Good players every where, I had a hard time building my team because of budget limitation but I did it.
www. allsoccerafrica.com for those that might be interested.

Guys, here is the deal for the Nations cup in the US without all that hustle and freebie crap.
The only way you can get it is thru a dish system, dish network to be precise, international package. Three stations will carry all the matches.
1. ART
2. Telesud
3. TV5 Canada. ( From knock-out stage)

Telesud will show the games on ppv online also.

In NYC you can watch all the matches at 590 Grandconcourse. For the past 8yrs guys have packed that joint during Nations Cup. It rocks.
Also there is a fantasy game at www.allsoccerafrica for the nations cup.

Watch out for Mali o!