Posts Tagged ‘African Cup of Nations’

Transfer Rumors (31 Jan 2010): Man United in for Spanish starlet, Tottenham’s Keane set for Sunderland, Everton want dandy Donovan permanently, and more

January 31st, 2010 Eddie Griffin



England

United Move For Canales

Manchester United are looking to swoop in and land highly-rated Racing Santander prospect Sergio Canales. The 18-year-old attacker is wanted by the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City, but Sir Alex Ferguson is set to fly to Spain this week to try to persuade Canales and family to choose United. (Tribal Football)

Analysis: It’d be an impressive capture by United if they can manage to land Canales, considering that they haven’t had nearly as much success with luring Spanish talent as have a couple of their Premier League rivals.

Sunderland Keen On Keane

It looks like Robbie Keane is on his way out of White Hart Lane once again, as Sunderland have had a £9m bid for the Ireland star accepted by Tottenham, according to the News of the World.

Analysis: Last May, Keane and Darren Bent started up front for Tottenham at the Stadium of Light. Oh what a difference seven-plus months make. Things are as crowded as ever up front for Tottenham, so it isn’t a bad move for Keane. Perhaps now Roman Pavlyuchenko will start getting some chances, because it sure doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

Liverpool Jonesin’ For Jones

There’s no telling who Keane’s move opens up the door up for at Spurs, but according to the Daily Mail, Keane’s move to Sunderland will free up the opportunity for either Liverpool or Birmingham to sign Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones.

Analysis: Or perhaps Tottenham, because we all know that Harry Redknapp can never have enough strikers. On a more serious note, Jones has been linked with the exit door all month long, and given that Liverpool were reportedly in talks over a move just this past week, it would appear that they’re the likeliest destination.

Though the news that Keane is off to Sunderland could put a spark in Birmingham’s hopes to land Jones, that same Daily Mail report says that if Jones chooses Liverpool, then Liverpool’s Ryan Babel will be off to Birmingham.

Analysis: Well, if anyone needs to move for the sake of regular football, it’s Babel, so he has to be hoping the first couple of dominoes fall favorably. Annnnd breathe.

City Target Double Swoop

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City are looking to make a couple of signings before the window shuts.

One of their prime targets is Parma midfielder McDonald Mariga, who is also at the top of Inter Milan’s wishlist. City have already agreed terms with Parma, and they’re hurrying to get a work permit in time to land the £7m Kenya star before the window shuts. (Daily Mail)

Analysis: I’m sure City fans will be hoping that his name shows up on the January transfer lists between now and tomorrow evening, and not just because of all of the inevitable burger chain-related headlines and jokes that will stem from signing someone with his first name.

City are also set to step up their efforts to outbid Chelsea and land Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. Not only would a sweetened cash offer help City’s hopes to land Johnson, but so would the offer to loan Johnson back to Boro for the remainder of the season (The People)

Analysis: They’re likely not going to stump up the full amount that Boro want for Johnson, which could prevent this one from getting done in the January window. But it is only a matter of time before he leaves, and City would be a good place for him to land.

Spurs Splash Out For Kaboul

While Keane is set to end his second stint at Tottenham, Younes Kaboul is just returning for his second go-round at the club, as the French defender has sealed a £5m switch from Portsmouth. (The People)

Analysis: The second time hasn’t been nearly as sweet for Keane, but Kaboul returns to Tottenham a much better player than he left, and that’s good news for a squad that needs some steadiness and durability in the center of defense as they try to fight off Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Manchester City for a Champions League place.

Everton Eye Permanent Donovan Deal

Landon Donovan could be set to make a permanent switch across the Atlantic, as Everton are already eying a permanent move for the American attacker after an impressive start to his loan stint. However, any such deal could have to wait until after the World Cup, according to The People’s reports.

Analysis: This looks like the right opportunity at the right time. This was Donovan’s best (and perhaps last) opportunity to make a real splash in a top European league, and he’s doing it so far. Keep it up, and whatever Everton have to pay will be a bargain.

Begovic Leaves Spurs Begging

For answers, that is, after the promising Portsmouth keeper backed out on a move to Tottenham after having a medical and instead decided to sign with Stoke City in a £3m deal. (The People)

Analysis: Taste of their own medicine? That sure didn’t take long. When it comes down to it though, Stoke is the better option, since he’ll get more opportunities than he likely would at Tottenham. Thomas Sorensen could be off soon enough, and the door for Begovic to be Stoke’s long-term #1 could be wide open sooner rather than later.

Moses Moseys On Down To Wigan

Crystal Palace attacker Victor Moses will be taking his act to the Premier League, and it will be with Wigan, who are snapping up the sought-after starlet in a £2.5m deal. (Daily Mail)

Analysis: This is likely the best move for him, as he’s going somewhere he’ll have the chance to earn regular first-team football sooner than he might elsewhere. For what it’s worth, if you check out his Wikipedia page, not everyone’s as happy about the move as he might be.

Duo Duel For Nagy

Fulham and Wolves are battling it out for African Cup of Nations top scorer Mohamed Nagy, who capped a breakout performance by netting an 85th-minute winner in today’s final triumph over Ghana. (The Mirror)

Analysis: This time last month, ‘Gedo’ had just made his debut with the national team. Now he’s their hero, and considering that Egypt won’t be at the World Cup this summer, now may be as good a time as he’ll ever have to seize the opportunity to move to a top league.

Boro Come Knocking For Nakamura

Gordon Strachan is pressing forward with his attempts to turn his Middlesbrough side into a clone of his former Celtic squad, as he’s now eying up a move for Shunsuke Nakamura, who’s now at Espanyol. (Tribal Football)

Analysis: Nakamura hasn’t exactly had a successful start to life at Espanyol, but as much as he might love Gordon Strachan, I don’t think he loves him enough to drop La Liga for the Championship just yet.

Italy

Fiorentina Capture Keirrison

Fiorentina have signed Barcelona striker Keirrison on a two-year loan deal. The option includes a option for a permanent deal for the 21-year-old Brazilian, who is coming off of an unsuccessful loan stint at Benfica. (Goal.com)

Analysis: It would also do them some good to bring in an experienced striker in the wake of the whole Mutu mess, but they were unsuccessful in their attempts to land Sampdoria’s Antonio Cassano. Roman Pavlyuchenko, perhaps? The News of the World says so, but we know he’s not going anywhere.

Lazio ‘Hit’ It Big

Lazio have signed former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger from Vfb Suttgart. (Sky Sports)

Analysis: Not only does Cristian Ledesma’s impending move to Inter leave a big hole in midfield, but Lazio need reinforcements to help them in their battle to stay in Serie A. Bringing in a player who’s been involved in a survival battle before (with Aston Villa in the 2002/03 season) and has the kind of experience he does will only help their cause.

“Transfer Rumors (31 Jan 2010): Man United in for Spanish starlet, Tottenham’s Keane set for Sunderland, Everton want dandy Donovan permanently, and more” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.



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Ivory Coast v Ghana – African Nations Cup Preview

January 15th, 2010 Dean Saliba



Ivory Coast v Ghana
African Cup of Nations 2010
Friday, January 15 2010
Kick-off: 18:30 (GMT)
Chimandela, Cabinda

Do Or Die Mission For Elephants

After failing to seize three points against Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast know that their destiny in Angola is at stake and any false move in their second group match could prove to be fatal. It will be harmful not only to the country but to the image of the media-glorified star players the team is composed of.

And back home in Abidjan, Didier Drogba and company know they will be in soup with local fans if Ghana halt their progression to the next stage of the African Cup of Nations.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic had talked about the lack of freshness, low mental strength and porous cohesion of his squad. He assured everybody days before the tournament that he had nicely overhauled the squad and that there was no more cause for fear.

But their first game against Burkina Faso revealed that the Ivorian machine needs more oiling or a complete repair. Ivory Coast’s FA president blasted the team for their lack of fighting spirit and it will be interesting to see how the squad react to such stinging criticism.

Portsmouth’s Aruna Dindane and Kader Keita of Galatasaray may begin the first half as opposed to the line-up of the previous match. They will receive instructions to hold on to the ball and try to dance with it as cleverly as possible in the Ghanaian defence, expecting to obtain a goal, a free-kick or a corner.

Black Stars Full Of Hope

This will be Ghana’s first match of the African Nations Cup. The Black Stars have rested, trained, and watched so many of the surprises so far at the tournament. They need not to be told that anything can happen.

Although plagued with some vital absentees such as Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari and John Paintsil, the Ghanaian squad remain dangerous. Unlike the Elephants, Ghana play a more technical and collective football and may not be intimidated by the parade of European top league stars they’ll be confronting on Friday evening.

Coach Milovan Rajevec knows he has a big job cut out for him in this encounter. Risking playing with half a dozen of the last FIFA Under-20 World Cup winners, he is absolutely not counting on experience as a winning factor, but rather a collective play.

Local supporters in Cabinda will surely share their hearts between Michael Essien and Didier Drogba – two sons of Chelsea FC, a widely cherished club in Angola.

With just one group game to go after this one, Ghana will be careful to procure some meaningful advantage against Ivory Coast in order to step onto the field with less panic to face Burkina Faso.

Ghana will play technically, thanks to the new entries, but will that be enough to outmatch the wealth of experience on the Ivorian side?

TEAM NEWS

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast’s squad is complete once again. No training session injuries have been reported. The FA president Jacques Anoma will be giving a very motivational speech to the players a day before this crucial encounter with Ghana, according to reports.
Squad

Goalkeepers:
Barry Boubacar (KSC Lokeren OV, Belgium), Zogbo Aristide Benoit (Maccabi Netanya FC, Israel), Angban Atchouailou
Vincent de Paul (Asec Mimosas, Ivory Coast.)

Defenders:
Eboue Emmanuel (Arsenal FC, England), Demel Guy-Roland (Hamburger SV, Germany), Tiene Siaka (Valenciennes FC, France), Boka Etienne Arthur (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Toure Kolo Abib (Manchester city, England), Meite Abdoulaye (West Bromwich Albion FC, England), Bamba Souleman (Hibernian FC, Scotland), Angoua Brou Benjamin (Kispest Honved, Hungary)

Midfielders: Toure Yaya Gnegneri (FC Barcelona, Spain), Zokora Didier (FC Seville, Spain), Fae Emerse (OGC Nice, France), Kone Kouamatien Emmanuel (FC Curtea Arges, Romania), Gosso Gosso Jean-Jacques (AS Monaco, France), Tiote Cheik Ismael (FC Twente, Holland)

Attackers:
Kone Bakari (O. Marseille, France), Keita Abdul Kader (Galatasaray SK, Turkey), Yao Kouassi Gervais (LOSC Lille Metropole, France), Kalou Salomon (Chelsea FC, England), Drogba Didier (Chelsea FC, England), Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth FC, England)

Ghana

Important midfielder Anthony Annan of Rosenborg, Norway, is ruled out of the Ivory Coast clash. He was reported to have sustained a hamstring injury during training session. He could be fit for the match against Burkina Faso on January 19th.

Good news, as injured Michael Essien successfully made it from England to the Ghanaian camp in Cabinda on Tuesday despite the terrible weather conditions in the UK. He has been announced fit for Friday’s match against Ivory Coast.

Squad

Goalkeepers:
Richard Kingston (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Defenders: Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland) Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany) Mensah Jonathan (Granada, Spain), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana) Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Sampdoria, Italy), Opoku Agyemang (Al Sadd, Qatar) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France) Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France)

Attackers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad FK, Norway) Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Osei Ransford (FC Twente, Holland)

PLAYERS TO
WATCH

Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba remains the veritable scorer of the Ivorian team. Analysts say he could have netted all the balls Bakary Kone missed against Burkina Faso. His presence in any match brings panic and extra-caution in the defensive area, and he is capable of converting any cross into the back net. He was nicely marked by Burkina Faso’s Madi Panandetiguiri last Monday. Let’s see how far and well the Ghanaian defence will take care of him.

Ghana

A.C. Milan-bound Dominic Adiyiah from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup squad brings terror to every box area. He was a top scorer of the FIFA junior tournament and people say he might be the revelation of this AFCON. Some critics say he lacks experience and what it takes to excel in high level matches. However, he’s one to watch. He might be the next Samuel Eto’o.

PREDICTION

Both teams will enter the field with much pressure on their shoulders. And much of the work will rest on their tacticians. Every minute and segment needs to be accurately managed. The Ivory Coast will resume with ultimate speed and Ghana will need to bring down the tempo and try to impose moderation, which might not hold for long.

Ivory Coast 2 – 2 Ghana

Kingsley Kobo, Goal.com

Also see: How to watch Angola 2010 live online.

“Ivory Coast v Ghana – African Nations Cup Preview” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.



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Angola v Malawi – African Nations Cup Preview

January 14th, 2010 Dean Saliba

Angola v Malawi
Thursday, January 14.
Kick-off: 20:30 CET

Malawi are already dreaming of a place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup as they meet tournament hosts Angola.

A 3-0 victory over World Cup-bound Algeria in their opening match sent the Flames to the top of Group A, with a two-point cushion over their nearest challengers.

For the soft spoken Kinnah Phiri, his side’s victory over Algeria serves as a morale boost going in to the crucial game against the hosts, who have had a disappointing start. Another three points could see them become the first team to progress to the last eight.

Angola have a point to prove to their supporters after throwing away a four-goal lead in their group opener against Mali. Just when it seemed easier to win than to lose, Angola fell apart, sharing the spoils with a Mali side who came back to make it 4-4 in the final 12 minutes.

Two goals in stoppage time snatched an unexpected draw for the Malians, and the Black Antelopes must cut out their defensive errors against Malawi if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

In contrast, Malawi go into this match in confident mood, knowing that they won convincingly against opponents they were expected to be stretched against. The three points in this match would bring them closer to progressing whilst avoiding the top team from another group, so long as Mali do not mount another last minute comeback in the final match of the group.

Angola

Angolan coach Manuel Jose is sweating over the fitness of central defender Dede (muscle injury) and the midfield maestro Gilberto (knee). Otherwise, after that disappointing game against Mali, the coach will certainly ring the changes. Double goalscorer in the last game, Flavio, is set to lead from the front again and hope the backdoor will be tightly shut this time.

It is clear that Angola need to win Thursday’s showdown against Malawi because a loss will almost certainly result in their elimination, unless they win their final match against Algeria and pray that Mali also lose against Malawi.

Star Player

Stocky striker Flavio scored a brace against Mali and will look to continue where he left off in the last game. Home fans always look up to the experienced striker and he knows what great expectations the country has of him.

Malawi

After a brilliant display against Algeria, Malawi are the most motivated of the two sides. Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri lost his temper when the Malawian Flames were denied entry into a training ground owned by local police side and used by both Angola and Malawi in preparation for the tournament.

The Malawians were reportedly prevented from disembarking from their team bus by the police because the Angolan national team were apparently still training. But after the Angolans had departed in their bus, Malawi were still stopped from getting off their bus and Phiri blew his fuse.

The coach is expected to keep the same team that gave Algeria a hiding as they aim to progress to the next round.

Star Player

Joseph Kamwendo is an important players for the Flames. Popularly known as ‘Shakira’ because of his silky twists and turns reminiscent of the Spanish popstar, Kamwendo had a disappointing game against Algeria by his standards. This game against the hosts is the right platform to show what a marvel he is to watch, as he can do so much with the ball.

Angola v Malawi Prediction

Angola owe it to the home fans after a disappointing showdown against Mali and they certainly will have a go at Malawi from the first whistle. Whilst Malawi are the most pumped up of the two sides, this will be a tight encounter.

Angola 1-1 Malawi

Clyde Tlou, Goal.com

Also see: Africa Cup of Nations 2010 Fixtures & How to watch Angola 2010 live online.



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Togo, Angola, and the World Cup

January 9th, 2010 Gary Andrews


Get a map of Africa and study the west coast of the continent. You’ll notice that between Angola and South Africa is the country of Namibia. Squint a bit closer and look further up the map and you’ll notice, between The Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo is a small area of land labelled as ‘Angola enclave’.

This is the now infamous Cabinda region, where yesterday’s attack on the Togo team bus that left at least three dead took place.

The point of this slightly sarcastic and quick geography lesson is to show that Cabinda is a long way away from South Africa. The distance is somewhat similar as London to Moscow. Geographically, what happens in an unstable enclave near the Congo should have absolutely no effect on the forthcoming World Cup in the Rainbow Nation.

South Africa does have problems with crime and safety. There are many questions and issues about the hosting of a tournament on the size and scale of the World Cup that need to be answered. But to conclude that this attack in Cabinda can be linked to South Africa, where England cricket fans are currently enjoying seeing the Three Lions maintain a 1-0 lead in the test series, is disingenuous to say the least.

Many football writers, pundits and managers, such as Phil Brown, have suggested the Togo shooting raises questions for the World Cup. It doesn’t. It’s like suggesting Serie A, or even the Premier League, should have been suspended while the Balkans conflict was ongoing. Comparing South Africa to Angola falls into the lazy old cliche of suggesting all Africa is the same. To be clear: it is a continent, not a country.

The Cabinda Conflict

To understand yesterday’s horrific attack on the Togo team bus requires a small amount of understand and context of the ongoing politics of the region. As with many conflicts around Africa, much of it comes down to natural resources, but there are also ethnic considerations as well.

For Angola, the 2010 African Cup of Nations was meant to be a matter of pride, showing off a country that, at the turn of the decade, was still in the grips of a long and bloody civil war, which only ended in 2002. The fighting in Cabinda went on much longer.

In 2006 the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) signed a peace accord with Angola but, as Just Football reports, FLEC is still active in the region and has recently discussed a merger with other rebel groups. FLEC also has a history of targeting high-profile foreigners.

Most of the small Cabinda region is jungle, but the area itself is very oil rich and contains a significant proportion of Angola’s total oil reserves. The Cabinda opposition groups regularly complain that the region does not see as much of this money as it deserves, while the Angolan government has constantly aimed to assert its authority on the region.

Indeed, just over a month ago Angolan government minister Antonio Bento Bembe announced that FLEC, as a group, no longer existed and that Cabinda, as a region, was safe. Such words were always likely to antagonise rebels, especially with such a high profile event taking place.

Tom Dunmore at Pitch Invasion has noted that Angola itself is no more dangerous than you’d expect it to be and the British Foreign Office notes ‘most visits to Angola are trouble free’. Even Cabinda’s capital city, also called Cabinda, is also safer than the majority of the region due to the oil money, but the American State Department’s travel advice warns against traveling to Cabinda’s northern region, which is incredibly dangerous.

With this background, it’s easy to understand why the attack took place. But question is how could it have happened?

An avoidable disaster?

With the conflict in and around Cabinda, the spotlight has to fall upon the Angolan authorities’ decision to stage group games in the Cabinda region. Along with Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Ghana were all due to play there. These are teams that contain several globally recognisable stars.

Given FLEC’s history attacking high-profile targets, it seems strange that a region with an active, armed rebel movement was seen as an appropriate place to host African Cup of Nations games. Perhaps Angola wanted to show to the world that they were in control in Cabinda. If the venue was selected solely to prove a political point, then this is a shocking decision that, as we have seen, jeopardised the safety of those involved.

But there’s a further rather large question here: just why were Togo driving to Cabinda City via one of the more dangerous areas of the region, when the official advice was to fly to the Angolan capital, Luanda, and travel from there.

Geographically, Togo’s decision to travel by road made sense. Their training camp was in the Republic of Congo and a road journey is the most direct and logical way to reach Cabinda. But this does not bring security concerns into the equation. Surely it’s inconceivable that the squad was not, at the very least, briefed on the security situation.

Then there is the confusing statements from the Togolese FA and the Angolan authorities that they were unaware of the squad’s plans to travel by road. We know that the Sparrow Hawks’ bus was met by a security detail upon entering the region, so clearly somebody was aware of how the players were arriving.

It also wouldn’t be a surprise if the Togo squad and their football authority had engaged in one of their regular fallings-out. Togo’s appearance at the 2006 World Cup was overshadowed by a row over the payment of bonuses. The players and the Tologese FA are not on the best of terms. Was this a reason for their unusual travel arrangements?

This horrible, sickening attack has overshadowed what should have been a joyous occasion for Angola. Yet it’s also clear that this is a tragedy that was avoidable.

The future of the tournament

At the time of writing, it seems certain that Togo have pulled out of the tournament, a decision that you can’t blame them for. They’ve witnessed friends and colleagues gunned down. It puts football into perspective and nobody would expect them to want to play after the attack.

Questions have also been raised about whether the tournament should continue. Kartik Krishnaiyer at Set Piece Analysis has called for this year’s African Cup of Nations to be cancelled. But, back at Pitch Invasion, Tom Dunmore notes that both England and the United States have experienced terror attacks before major sporting events and have carried on, in defiance.

It’s easy to write this sitting in the relative safety of London, and I haven’t just seen colleagues killed in front of me, but I believe the tournament should continue, although the games in Cabinda should be moved.

The tournament can still showcase the best of African football, and Luanda is more secure than Cabinda. And to capitulate now shows those who committed the attack that their actions were successful.

If there are overriding security concerns, then by all means call it off. But if it is simply a case of moving games from Cabinda and stepping up already-high security then it should go ahead. The spirit of football should not be defeated.

But, to finish, football should be a matter of joy. It is a game that has the potential to unite countries that desperately need hope. There will always be rivalries and, yes, violence. But no game is worth the life of a player, coach, bus driver, or fan. It should be a sport that brings people together not, as some have done, used it to settle a score, be it African politics, or tribal club loyalties.

Our thoughts remain with those were were injured or killed, their friends and their families.

“Togo, Angola, and the World Cup” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.



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Angola 2010 Preview

January 8th, 2010 Dean Saliba


The 27th edition of African Cup of Nations will kick off on Sunday in Angola with the hosts taking on Mali. Ivory Coast are under enormous pressure to finally deliver the trophy to the nation, while Egypt will be aiming for a historic third consecutive title. Here’s a closer look at all the teams involved and their chances in the continent’s most prestigious tournament.

Group A

Angola

Previous participation: 4 times (best result quarter-final 2008)
Result in Ghana 2008: quarter-final
Manager: Manuel Jose (Portugal)
Star player: Manucho (Real Valladolid)

As hosts, there no doubt has to be some kind of pressure to perform well. Especially with reaching the quarter-finals last time out, which was seen as a bit of a surprise, even though the team were part of the World Cup 2006. A lot will depend on Manucho. The former Manchester United player is a great force at this level and always seems to reserve his best for international stage. He was a star in 2008 and he’ll have be starring again for the nation to repeat their 2008 success. I believe home support will take Angola through from the group stage.

Mali

Previous participation: 5 times (best result runner-up 1972)
Result in Ghana 2008: group stage
Manager: Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)
Star player: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla)

Surprisingly Mali hasn’t been mentioned when there’s been talk about potential favorites for the tournament. Possibly due to memories of the 2008 campaign, were Mali were touted as the ones most likely to prevent Ivory Coast from winning it. But as we know, both failed. For a team boasting quality through out their squad not getting past the group stage would be a failure, but I think Mali have learned from past mistakes and can make it further this time.

Algeria

Previous participation: 13 times (best result winner 1990)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Rabah Saadane (Algeria)
Star player: Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg)

Don’t really know what to expect from Algeria. The nation of course made it to South Africa 2010, but it’s their first appearance at the Cup of Nations since 2004. Their team ethic is top notch and Ziani a wonderful player, but I fear the focus might not quite be there and Algeria won’t get past the group stage.

Malawi

Previous participation: 1 (group stage 1984)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Eli Cohen (Israel)
Star player: Essau Kanyenda (KAMAZ, Russia)

This being their only second ever appearance at this stage, Malawi really are an unknown quantity, but in Cohen they’ve got an experienced manager. The Israeli has bags of experience from working at his home nations biggest clubs. Kanyenda is one of the few players from the Malawi squad, who plays in Europe, so you’d expect him to deliver the goods alongside Chiukepo Msowoya (APR FC, Rwanda), who was the top scorer in qualifying with 6 goals. It’s more of a learning curve for the nations though. You’d think they aren’t no pushovers and could snatch a point, but it’s nearly mission impossible to get out of the group.

Group B

Ivory Coast

Previous participation: 17 times (best result winner 1992)
Result in Ghana 2008: 4.
Manager: Vahid Halihodžic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Star player: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Of course the team, who everybody will be looking forward to seeing and expect them to win, but will they win? It was the same situation two years ago, but Ivory Coast got knocked out in the semis by eventual winners Egypt and also lost the 3rd place match to Ghana. Drogba is again the man, who everybody pin points and rightly so as the man is an icon for not only the team, but for the nation as a whole, but I suggest you to also look out for Gervinho. The Lille player has been in superb form this season and could out to be the dark horse in the Elephants well known squad. Getting through from the group shouldn’t be a problem, after that anything can happen. I tip Ivory Coast to take a step further and finally reach the final. It will be seen if they can then add to their 1992 glory.

Ghana

Previous participation: 16 times (best result winner 4 times)
Result in Ghana 2008: 3.
Manager: Milovan Rajevac (Serbia)
Star player: Michael Essien (Chelsea)

At first glance you could confidently say Ghana are amongst the possible favorites, but injuries and bad climate in the dressing room, make them a unstable team. Due to injuries there are now 8 U-20 World Champions 2009 involved, so you could also say that the team lacks experience. But it ain’t all doom and gloom, latest news say Essien has returned to full training and the Chelsea man will now have perform twice as good, with his fellow midfield general Sulley Muntari left out of the squad. Think they’ll get through from the group, but not any further.

Burkina Faso

Previous participation: 6 times (best result 4. 1998)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Paolo Duarte (Portugal)
Star player: Jonathan Pitroipa (Hamburg)

Burkina Faso are a team with great potential. Pitroipa is only one of many young players playing in European top league’s. The team also boasts a clinical finisher in Moumouni Dagano (Al-Khor, Qatar), who was the top scorer of the entire qualifying campaign with 12 goals. Ivory Coast and Ghana are tough nuts to crack, but I think Burkina Faso will give at least one a scare and will fight for the 2nd qualifying place.

Togo

Previous participation: 6 times (best result group stage)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Hubert Velud (France)
Star player: Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City)

Just like Angola, Togo didn’t take part of Ghana 2008, but they made it to the last World Cup and they also rely very much on one player. Emmanuel Adebayor has to bang the goals in if Togo wants to have any chance of fighting with their neighbours Burkina Faso and Ghana for a place in the quarter-final stage. I feel in the end, they won’t manage it though, the side just lacks quality to be competitive.

Group C

Egypt

Previous participation: 21 times (best result winner 6 times)
Result in Ghana 2008: winners
Manager: Hassan Shehata (Egypt)
Star player: Mohamed Zidan (Borussia Dortmund)

A lot of egos have been cut from the Egyptian team, so Mohamed Zidan finally gets a chance to shine. The 28-year old also played a major part securing the 2008 success and as mentioned before, the team will be now aiming for a historic 3rd consecutive title. Everything looks perfectly set, the team doesn’t have the World Cup 2010 to worry about. And like their record shows, they just always seem to win this! It’s incredibly tough in this years competitions, but I back the Pharaohs to reach at least the semis.

Nigeria

Previous participation: 15 times (best result winners twice)
Result in Ghana 2008: quarter-final
Manager: Shaibu Amodu (Nigeria)
Star player: Yakubu (Everton)

Nigeria have always been there or there abouts in the Cup of Nations with three 3rd place finishes and one runner-up position from the last five tournaments. Now they boast a very evenly balanced team with youth and experience. Nwankwo Kanu will be taking part of his 6th Cup of Nations, while John Obi Mikel will be the key in midfield. Qualification was rough with the team only getting through by a late-late goal, but will the players now shine in the final tournament? Getting past the group stage shouldn’t be a problem, luck will play a big part after that and if the Flying Eagles are lucky, a place in the final would be well deserved. Amodu has been the mind behind all the past success, he knows the way to success.

Benin

Previous participation: 2 (Best result group stage)
Result in Ghana 2008: group stage
Manager: Michel Dussuyer (France)
Star player: Stephane Sessegnon (PSG)

Benin’s reliance on Sessegnon is ever greater than Angola’s for Manucho or Togo’s for Adebayor. The PSG man has to be on top form if Benin want to have any dreams of surpassing their previous 2 campaign’s, which ended with the group stage. They’ve so far lost all their matches at the Cup of Nations finals, this year they’ll break this series, but it probably isn’t enough to reach the quarter-finals.

Mozambique

Previous participation: 3 times (best result group stage)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Martin Nooij (Netherlands)
Star player: Simao (Panathinaikos)

Mozambique are a very interesting team in a sense that a few players, who played in the nations last appearance in the Cup of Nations finals in 1998, are still part of the squad. But it also tells you another side of the story, there just aren’t enough quality players in the country to be successful. A respectable, but not very successful campaign ahead of them.

Group D

Cameroon

Previous participation: 15 times
Result in Ghana 2008: runner-up
Manager: Paul Le Guen (France)
Star player: Samuel Eto´o (Inter Milan)

Cameroon are also a team, who’ve been weakened by injuries, but they have a luxury of being the only team in Africa, who actually has a top goalkeeper. That man is Espanyol’s Carlos Kameni. He and the defence have to perform to get the full potential out from a solid midfield and Eto´o. Le Guen is a good manager and he could mastermind a good finish here. Semi-finals as a minimum in my opinion for the Indomitable Lions.

Tunisia

Previous participation: 13 times (best result winner 2004)
Result in Ghana 2008: quarter-final
Manager: Faouzi Benzarti (Tunisia)
Star player: Issam Jemâa (Lens)

Tunisia look a certainty to follow Cameroon through from the group here. The team suffered heart ache of missing out on the World Cup 2010, this tournament is a great opportunity to ease the pain. It will be seen if they can also get further from the quarter-finals. I have my doubts, because while the team is made up of good players it lacks a leader.

Zambia

Previous participation: 13 times (best result third 1996)
Result in Ghana 2008: group stage
Manager: Herve Renard (France)
Star player: Collins Mbesuma (Moroka Swallows, South Africa)

Former Portmouth player Mbesuma is a controversial character, who has problems with discipline, but he’s performed at this stage before and will now also be looked as a key. Zambia are a regular at the finals, but they rarely make it past the group stage, same is expected this time.

Gabon

Previous participation: 3 (best result quarter-final 1996)
Result in Ghana 2008: didn’t qualify
Manager: Alain Giresse (France)
Star player: Daniel Cousin

Giresse has been Gabon manager since 2006 and built a good team capaple of surprises. The squad is almost entirely made up of players playing in Europe with Hull City’s Daniel Cousin being the biggest name. This tells you Giresse, and Gabon football as a whole, is heading to the right direction, but they won’t just make it this year.

So a lot to look forward to. African Cup of Nations always provides great emotions for the viewers with the local atmosphere and attacking football being played. This years competition seems to be to most competitive one of recent times. There are at least 6 teams capable of winning it and there’s always surprises in stalled. Whatever happens though, it’s a great appetiser for this years World Cup in South Africa and we might even see the future winners in action here. No doubt the team who triumphs on 31 January will also be the continent’s biggest hope of delivering the World Cup in the summer.

Also See:

“Angola 2010 Preview” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.



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