Africa Cup of Nations 2012

The competition consists of 4 groups of four sides & kicks off on Saturday.

Then the later rounds..


The Teams

Group A
EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Are the co-hosts & the lowest ranking FIFA side ever to do that. After getting the gig they invested heavily in the shape of old hand in Africa French coach Henri Michel to get them past the group stage. In a way that only a French coach could he departed less than a month ago leaving a side totally in disarray. New instant coach Brazilian Paulo Gilson has taken the route favoured by British Athletics & calling anyone who looks good a national.
LIBYA - Overcome the sort of adversity that few Premiership players could ever dream of to qualify only for the second time for the competition. Really a semi professional squad, most of whom have little experience because they were stopped from playing overseas. Also cannot be especially match fit as they have not exactly been playing football in Libya of late. Players could view it as putting themselves on display though & really go for it to attract foreign interest.
SENEGAL - Lot of disgust in the country last time they failed to qualify for CoN in Angola. They have shaken themselves up considerably. Quality players all over the park & they dropped just 1 point in the qualifiers. They would be devastated not to qualify out of this group.
ZAMBIA - Sacked the coach immediately they qualified with typical African football politics playing a part in that. They won their qualification group which also contained Libya. They only got 1 point in their two games against the North Africans though. They have some established stars playing though, Jacob Mulenga their rock is sidelined with injury.

Group B
IVORY COAST - Probably have the best group of players in the competition. That could have been said of them in the last couple of contests as well though & they failed to win either of them. Plenty of Premiership quality on display here though, including Drogba, Gervinho and the Toure brothers.
SUDAN - Not a lot of positives to report about the side really. Admittedly the side comes from just 2 home based teams so they should know each other. However it is extremely doubtful as to if their fitness or diet regime is in any way comparable to European based players. Added to that is that they only just qualified as best losers & that they have traditionally travelled about as well as Fulham this season.
BURKINA FASO - Nearly didn't make it as they were subject to investigations as to if they fielded an ineligible player. Have never managed to win a ACoN match outside their own country & didn't score in their last 4 games.
ANGOLA - have been rather successful since they emerged from the civil war that ravaged the country for so long. So, as expected, have rather an ageing squad but none the worse for that. Could well to be a side to be avoided & not an easy touch for any side.

Group C
GABON - The other co-host of the contest. Will need all of the power of the crowd to progress very far you have to think. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is their goal scoring star & has been in good form with his French side St Etienne. you have to feel that although they could cause the odd shock result the quality is just not there in any depth.
NIGER - you could have made good money betting that they would have made the event, given that their qualification group contained South Africa, Egypt & Sierra Leone. They lost all away & won all at home, where it is HOT even by African standards. Without that advantage you have to feel that they might struggle, however they do have a wily coach in the shape of Harouna Doula who will trap the unprepared!!
MOROCCO - Belgian Eric Gerets has been in charge for a while & has transformed the side with the assistance of dual nationality players from France & Holland. They have a solid defence, some talented midfielder & Marouane Chamakh of Arsenal up front...OK it can't all be good.. They could be worth a flutter though as long as they get the breaks.
TUNISIA - Only just qualified for the competition because of results elsewhere in their group. They have not exactly set the football world afire, even with events at home. Issam Jemaa is their main strike threat & he is out until IF they are still there at the later stages.

Group D
GHANA - 30 years since they have won this & must be in with a chance, again, this time. Ghana won the under 20 World Cup in 2009 & many of those players are now available for the senior squad. Might well be worth a bet to actually win it this time.
BOTSWANA - Got through to the competition by racing away with 5 wins out of 6 as the qualifiers started. Things have turned rather sour between the squad & their football authority since those early days though. Depends really what mind set they come to the competition with as to how well they do.
MALI - Another side with self induced troubles going into this competition. Not many are expecting much from what is a young & inexperienced side.
GUINEA - Maybe a team with too many players probably now past their best & not exactly playing club football any more. However they could ruffle a few feathers in high profile games. They qualified after drawing with high flyers Nigeria, in Nigeria.

Some absentees..
2, really of note.
Egypt, winners for the last 3 competitions & Nigeria...

The odds...
Ivory Coast 17/10
Ghana 9/2
Senegal 6
Morocco 10
Tunisia 12

Kick off today, times BST,
Not sure if any games are being shown live in Thailand, on what station.
Looks like a competition for insomniacs or early risers judging by today...

The games in the week seem to be kicking off at 4 in the afternoon & 7 in the evening BST.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea v Libya, GpA, 18:30
Senegal v Zambia, GpA, 21:00

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya
Senegal 1-2 Zambia

With only 3 games in the group & the first two qualifying this was a huge result for co-host Guinea.
Also a rather worrying one for 3rd. favourites to win it, Senegal.
Can't afford to lose the first match as a scrappy draw in the second & you can be as good as out, or meeting one of the other top sides far too early.

Group B gives it a go today..

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ivory Coast v Sudan, GpB, 16:00
Burkina Faso v Angola, GpB, 19:00

Still not sure if they are showing the games live anywhere in Thailand.
However, on cable, channel 54, Euro Sport, at the moment (noon) they are showing a replay of the full game between Equatorial Guinea & Libya - the first game played last night...

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Burkina Faso 1-2 Angola
Ivory Coast 1-0 Sudan

The group B results rather went as the form suggested.
Ex Manchester United striker Manucho won the contest for Angola.
Ivory Coast struggled rather against a dogged Sudan until Chelsea's Didier Drogba found the net.
The two winners yesterday (Ivory Coast & Angola) always looked like they would progress, but no one is looking exceptional as yet & it looks like the tightest competition in a long while.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon v Niger, GpC, 16:00
Morocco v Tunisia, GpC, 19:00

The two North African sides contesting the late game are probably the two looking to progress. Will be interesting to see if one of them wants to make a mark or they will be happy to share the points...

Euro Sport seems to be showing some games live in Europe. Although, I gather, there is a British Euro Sport & a European Euro Sports & the games are mixed between the two shows. So some are available live on cable in Thailand & some are not...

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon 2-0 Niger
Morocco 1-2 Tunisia

Another good result for a co-host, although Gabon & Niger are, statistically, the two weakest sides in the group.
Rather went against the odds in the all North Africa game. Morocco somehow conceded two goals & then just couldn't score more than 1 themselves despite having plenty of chances.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ghana v Botswana, GpD, 16:00
Mali v Guinea, GpD, 19:00

The final Group gets under way tonight. Ghana look to have a real chance given how the other rated sides have played so far. They would probably like to start their group with something to make the others sit up & take notice.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ghana 1-0 Botswana
Mali 1-0 Guinea

Well all the groups first round matches are now over & no one has really stamped their authority on the tournament with a 'we are going to win this' display.
Captain John Mensah was Ghana's saint & sinner last night. His goal secured them the win but his sending off meant that it was kept down to just the one goal. They dominated the game but no side has looked like they feel they are just making up the numbers this year.
Mali won the other close encounter against Guinea with a deflected shot that left the keeper helpless.

So everyone has had a shot & it looks like being a tight contest with goals rather at a premium. Egypt have just dominated the competitions for the last 3 years & have looked the likely winners as soon as the contests had started. With them not in contention no other side has grabbed their mantle.
Ivory Coast & Ghana might both feel that qualification is all that counts at this stage & that they have achieved part one without too many drama.
Part two kicks off tonight.
With only 3 matches in the qualification groups they can often turn in to matches that sides are looking not to lose, rather than win. It is with a bit of satisfaction then that although no side looked like a goal machine in round one neither was any match a draw.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Libya v Zambia, GpA, 16:00
Equatorial Guinea v Senegal, GpA, 19:00

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Senegal
Libya 2-2 Zambia

A quite amazing result by the co-hosts, Equatorial Guinea, mean that they have qualified for the last 8 of the competition. It cannot be overstated what a huge shock the victory was. The lowest FIFA ranked side ever to host the competition against the 3rd. favourites to win the competition. Worse Senegal are now out of the competition all together.
Huge shock that will have repercussions in African football.

Meanwhile the other two sides in Group A battle out a draw which means that both can still take the second qualification slot.
Before the competition started you would have thought that would heavily favour Zambia, who only have to avoid defeat on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea to take the second spot. However as the co-hosts have won 2 out of 2 & must be on the crest of a wave & will be backed with hugely enthusiastic fans, it is all very much in the balance.
Libya will hope that Senegal are completely down & out & that they can beat them while the Equatorial Guinea streak continues...

Thursday, 26 January 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Sudan v Angola, GpB, 16:00
Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso, GpB, 19:00

You have to feel that Angola & Ivory Coast will see these games as their chance to qualify easily for the last 8, with the clash between the pair decided who is first & second.
It will be another shock if they do not both win tonight....

Thursday, 26 January 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ivory Coast 2-0 Burkina Faso
Sudan 2-2 Angola

Despite the scoreline Ivory Coast did not exactly impress as they booked their spot in the last 8. Burkina Faso didn't look a bad side but just could not create enough chances & had no one with enough calibre to convert those they did make.
I imagine that Ivory Coast will just be happy to have escaped the banana skins of the prelims & will worry about style later!!

Manucho scored twice (once from the spot) for Angola. However Sudan were not to be denied something out of the game.
Their first point in 36 years in the African Cup finals. Their first goal was also the first goal that they have scored since 1976. Mind you most of those years have been spent out of the competition because of the state of football in Sudan, where just maybe economic & political conditions take a priority.

The result leaves both these sides still in with a chance of progressing.
Angola face the much tougher task of facing the Ivory Coast though so Sudan have a real opportunity.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Niger v Tunisia, GpC, 16:00
Gabon v Morocco, GpC, 19:00

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon 3-2 Morocco
Niger 1-2 Tunisia

This is certainly a competition for the 2 co-hosts. I think many observers (me included) thought that neither of them stood a chance of making it out of the first rounds & that they would not have even been in the competition if they had needed to qualify. But they are both doing great. Morocco had opened the scoring in the first half & were looking pretty comfortable with 10 minutes to go. They were conceding a lot of free kicks though. Then Gabon scored two goals in two minutes to take the lead. Morocco then got a penalty & it looked like they had snatched a draw.
Not to be denied though the hosts scored from a 94th. minute free kick.
Morocco, who must have been confident of coming out of this group, if not actually winning it, before the competition started, are out. The other 'minnow' co-hosts are through to the last 8.

It was not all plain sailing for Tunisia either. Having won against Morocco in the opener they were expected to easily snuff out any challenge from Niger, who had looked poor when losing in their first game.
As it was Niger were much improved & rather unlucky to get nothing out of the game. The winner that Tunisia snuck in right at the end was very much against the run of play, while the referee was rather generous in not punishing some of the North African more robust defending..

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Botswana v Guinea, GpD, 16:00
Ghana v Mali, GpD, 19:00

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Botswana 1-6 Guinea
Ghana 2-0 Mali

Ah, at last a few goals...
Botswana did mange to level this match to 1 each by way of a couple of times taken penalty, but then it was all Guinea. They scored 2 goals late on to put the icing on the result but it really only looked like going one way from the kick off.
They have the tough task of getting something from Ghana in the last game while, somehow, Mali fail against Botswana. A tough call for them to qualify even after this.

Not quiet as easy for Ghana as the result suggests. Mali could have taken the lead with a free kick that hit the bar. There was also many who thought that the foul that caused that free kick was a red card offence. However Ghana ignored all that & scored. Once they added the second it became very comfortable for them & they rather cruise through to the last 8. Mali's fate is still in their own hands & they should also qualify if they don't let this loss effect them.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea v Zambia, GpA, 18:00
Libya v Senegal, GpA, 18:00

Today the final rounds of group games begins.
The co hosts Equatorial Guinea, unbelievably, will take the top spot if they pick up any points tonight.
Zambia & Libya are fighting it out for second spot.
Equatorial Guinea will get immense support from the fans...are the Senegalese players mentally already on the planes back to their clubs...??

Well the ACON may not be setting the world of sport alight with viewing figures.
However this you tube clip has been viewed by over 1 million people.
It was during the remarkable result of Equatorial Guinea 2 Senegal 1, but has more to do with acting than football.
Narcisse Ekanga decided that he had been fouled & went for an over the top performance in an attempt to convince the ref.
Can't see any Premiership clubs lining up to sign him up, but maybe East Enders might be interested..
It is not the first time he has been a you tube star. He also achieved a fair bit of notoriety for the 'penalty' incident when he was playing for Mazembe in their 3 nil defeat against Inter Milan in the FIFA Club World Cup - second video

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia
Libya 2-1 Senegal

The bubble was burst slightly for Equatorial Guinea as the home supporters saw them defeated for the first time in the competition. Importantly for Zambia it not only meant qualification but that they also win the group. That means that they will probably miss out on playing Ivory Coast in the last 8 as they look favourites to win Group B.
So Equatorial Guinea hugely overachieve by qualifying out of the Group but will probably mean that they now have the daunting task of meeting the favourites, but it does meant that they will play that game at home.

The other game was a good contest despite the fact that both sides go out of the competition. Libya will be reasonably satisfied with at least their performance in this game & the draw with Zambia after what could only be described as less than ideal preparations for the competition.
This was probably Senegal's best performance of the competition, but they leave pointless. As they were third favourites to win the competition & really should have had quite an easy ride through to the semi-finals this has been a catastrophic competition for the side..

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ivory Coast v Angola, GpB, 18:00
Sudan v Burkina Faso, GpB, 18:00

Tonight the group A qualifiers will find out who they face in the next round...

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Ivory Coast 2-0 Angola
Sudan 2-1 Burkina Faso

All too easy for the Ivory Coast as they cruised through to the last 8. This was an understrength side from that played in the first two games yet, ominously for the other sides, they still made it look easy. They will meet the co-hosts, Equatorial Guinea, in the quarter-finals. For Angola this is deep disappointment as the defeat means that they miss out on qualification. The side just never got going in this game until they were two goals behind & by then it was far too late.

It was Sudan's first win at the Africa Cup of Nations for 42 years & results in qualification to the next round. Unbelievable given that they are all home based players in a country ravaged by war, disease & famine for just about all of my lifetime. It was a game that they won rather against the run of play & they may have always looked second best as a footballing side to Burkina Faso, but the result is all at this stage.
They now face Zambia in the quarter finals..

So once side of the draw for the next round is complete, with a few surprises as well. Today the contestants for the other side of the draw start to get themselves sorted out.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon v Tunisia, GpC, 18:00
Niger v Morocco, GpC, 18:00

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon 1-0 Tunisia
Niger 0-1 Morocco

Well this is really the co-hosts' competition now, whoever actually ends up winning it.
Gabon always looked the better bet of the two to sneak qualification, but I don't think actually topping their group was ever in anybodies thoughts. That, however, is exactly what this result does. They will go forward to play the second best side in group D which must give them a real chance of actually progressing to the semi finals as they will be playing in their capital as well. Tunisia knew they were qualified before kick off & never really recovered from complacency to put in a spirited enough performance to beat their hosts.

Morocco salvaged a little pride by beating also rans Niger. Both sides knew that they were playing for nothing & it showed in probably the least entertaining match played so far. It was won by a single goal 10 minutes from time, but all but the players, wives & family had lost interest long before then.

Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Botswana v Mali, GpD, 18:00
Ghana v Guinea, GpD, 18:00

It is just about still all to play for in Group D where any 2 can still qualify, although Ghana look firm favourites to win the Group.