The African Nations Cup thread

Still can't find which channel will be showing it though (hopefully Eurospsort and not the BBC, I'll end up destroying the tv if I have to sitthrough so much Garth Crookes again)

who's in it this time, who are the favourites etc?

ALGERIA
Winners 1990; Runner-up 1980. Qualified 13 times. Rabah Saadane has just taken charge of the team after the resignation of Belgian George Leekens, who resigned after the completion of the qualifying series. Algeria have not been able to replicate the heights achieved two decades ago but are increasingly adding French-born players of Algerian extraction to strengthen their side.

BENIN
Qualified for the first time. The west African country are one of the shock qualifiers for the finals, having pipped Zambia in their last game. Their progress comes despite changing coaches midway through the campaign, dropping Belgian Rene Taelman for Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, the former Ghana international. The 25-year-old striker Oumar Tchomogo, from French second division club Valence, scored five goals in the qualifying campaign.

BURKINA FASO
Qualified six times. Burkina Faso continue to strengthen their profile and have qualified now for a fifth successive Nations Cup tournament. French coach Jean-Paul Rabier was under considerable pressure to achieve but the eventually got through in a potentially difficult group, propelled by the influence and goals of Belgian-based striker Moumouni Dagano. He also received considerable support from the promising Dieudonne Minoungou.

CAMEROON
Winners 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002; Runner-up 1986. Qualified 13 times. The defending champions did not have to qualify but have shown their pedigree with a place in the recent Confederations Cup final in France, including victory over Brazil. It was an achievement marred by the shock death of midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe. Coach Winfried Schafer is slowly introducing new talent to his side, but still relies heavily on the experience of captain Rigobert Song and the goal scoring ability of Samuel Eto'o Fils.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Winners 1968, 1974. Qualified 14 times. The country formerly known as Zaire continue to run a ramshackle administration but have enough playing strength to overcome their lack of consistency and organisation. Captain Shabani Nonda played little part in the qualifiers, seemingly frustrated with the way the team is run. Newcastle United's Lomana Tresor Lua Lua threatened to quit the side too, although he returned for the last group match at the weekend in Gaborone. The side is coached by Joseph Mukeba, but there are plans to get a coach from Europe to handle the side.

EGYPT
Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998; Runner-up 1962. Qualified 19 times. Egypt extend their record for the most number of Nations Cup appearances, scoring 13 goals without reply in their last two group games to qualify. Yet there still remains considerable pressure on coach Mohsen Saleh, who might not yet take the side to Tunisia in January. Midfielder Ahmed Hassan is one of the survivors of the side that won the Nations Cup in 1998 and remains a key factor, complimented by controversial striker Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam.

GUINEA
Runner-up 1976. Qualified seven times. A talented side, who could pose some problems in the finals with their exciting line-up. Turkish-based Souleymane Youla, Bordeaux's Pascal Feindouno and the veteran Aboubacar Titi Camara make up a formidable attack. The side are coached by the Frenchman Michel Dussuyer. The Syli Nationale as the side is nicknamed, could have been contenders for the last World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea had they not been stymied by a political dispute. They were suspended by Fifa after the sport minister disbanded the football federation in January 2001.

KENYA
Qualified five times. Kenya won their first three qualifying matches to create a runaway lead in their group and never looked back to secure their first Nations Cup berth in 12 years. Coached by Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee, most of the players are locally-based but the Harambee Stars also rely on the influence of captain Musa Otieno, who plays in South Africa and midfielder John Mururi of Gent in Belgium. Kenya have also uncovered a teenage sensation in Denis Oliech, the 19-year-old forward, who scored three goals in the qualifiers and has recently secured a club contract in Qatar.

MALI
Runner-up 1972. Qualified four times. Mali were the last hosts of the Nations Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. Mali used much the same team for the 2004 qualifiers, where they edged out Zimbabwe on goal difference in group six. They are now coached by Frenchman Christian Dalger. The side includes exciting talent like Seydou Keita and Mahamdou Diarra, who plays for French champions Lyon. Mali will be hoping that Lens defender Adama Coulibaly recovers in time from his long-standing leg injury to feature in Tunisia.

MOROCCO
Winner 1976. Qualified 11 times. Morocco were unbeaten in their group and did not concede a single goal in an efficient performance by coach Badou Zaki's side. The side are coached by the former goalkeeper, who was at the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico. Zaki toured Europe last year and has uncovered several players with Moroccan heritage to add to his squad. Veteran defender Noureddine Naybet, from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, will probably lead the side in Tunisia in what is likely to be his international swansong.

NIGERIA
Winner 1980, 1994; Runner-up 1984, 1988, 2000. Qualified 13 times. A controversial penalty saved Nigeria from home defeat in their last qualifier against Angola last month and got them the point they needed to qualify. The close shave has added to the pressure on coach Christian Chukwu, who looks likely to be usurped by a high profile European in the next months. English-based midfielder Austin Okocha is the pivot around which the team operates, backed up by the goals of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Nwankwo Kanu.

RWANDA
Qualified for the first time. The east African country caused arguably the biggest upset in Nations Cup history by beating Ghana in Kigali on 6 July to qualify. Their progress has come on the back of considerable financial support from the country's president, Paul Kagame - an avid football fan. Coached by Serbian Ratomir Dujkovic, their side has just four foreign-based players - all from the Belgian league. They are the St. Truiden pair of Claude Kalisa and Desire Mbonabucya; Pape Mayele of Lokeren and Hamid Ndikumana from Gent. Mbonabucya previously played in Turkey, while Kalisa was named as one of the top 10 footballers in the Belgian league this season.

SENEGAL
Runner-up 2002. Qualified eight times. World Cup quarter-finalists last year, Senegal are the in-form team in African football and will be among the favourites for the Nations Cup title in Tunisia. French coach Guy Stephan did not get off to a roaring start this year, with defeat in friendlies against Morocco and Tunisia. But the side's fortunes changed at the right time, getting wins over Gambia and Lesotho to secure qualification. The bulk of the side that went to the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea is still in place, led by African Footballer of the Year El Hadji Diouf and the Auxerre midfielder Khalilou Fadiga.

SOUTH AFRICA
Winner 1996; Runner-up 1998. Qualified five times. South Africa came through a tough group to edge out the Ivory Coast for a place in the finals, finishing unbeaten and with just one goal conceded. Defence is the new strong suite of the side, but coach Ephraim Mashaba still has a problem with his foreign-based stars. The foreign legion were picking and choosing which games they want to play. He tried to deal with the problem by leaving them out, but needs players like Shaun Bartlett and Benni McCarthy if the country are to mount any serious challenge on the title in Tunisia.

TUNISIA
Runner-up 1965, 1996. Qualified 11 times. Tunisia will be hosting the finals for the third time but still seeking their first triumph in the continental championship. Former French World Cup coach Roger Lemerre has been brought in to direct their latest attempt and is rebuilding an ageing team, which proved disappointing at the World Cup in Japan last year. French-based midfielder Slim Benachour is the new hope of Tunisian football. Tunisia are better known for their defensive capabilities than their attacking flair.

ZIMBABWE
Qualified for the first time. Zimbabwe have long been the 'nearly men' of the Nations Cup, repeatedly missing out on qualification at the final hurdle. But they have finally slipped through the back door as the best placed runner-up in the qualifiers to take the last berth. English-based striker Peter Ndlovu drove them to the finals with five goals in the preliminary tournament and will be their key force in Tunisia, supported by Auxerre attacker Benjamin Mwaruwari. The side are coached by Sunday Marimo, a former international and one of the past playing legends of the southern African country.

AFRICAN NATIONS CUP ON EUROSPORT TV

The traditional home of the African Nations Cup once again provides exhaustive and unrivalled coverage of this year's tournament. Of the 32 matches, 23 matches will be broadcast live and 7 broadcast on a delay.

British viewers will be also able to watch the entire tournament on British Eurosport with the unrivalled commentary team of Dave Farrar and Tim Caple with analysis from John Duncan (former manager of Chesterfield and generally a bit of an arse) and Brian Hamilton

eurosport also show loads of biathlon, which kicks ass, and like every other odd winter sport, loads of ski jumping...

Surely one of the above teams has to make the final. Anyone know the groups?

Group A: Tunisia, DR Congo, Guinea, Rwanda
Group B: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali
Group C: Cameroon, Algeria, Egypt, Zimbabwe
Group D: Nigeria, Benin, Morocco, South Africa

Good to see that Doctor Congo is playing again too.

Eurosport used to show sumo wrestling too, which I love, but I've only been back with Sky for a few weeks, so I don't know if they still do.

The last African Nations Cup was among the dullest international tournaments I've ever seen.

kanoute on fire!!

plucky underdogs coming up trumps left, right and centre!!!

GAVIN PEACOCK!!!!

this competition has everything, including some ace pitchside advertising, wouldn't you just love world cup 2010 to be in libya? also what is "Fa Fa Fa Fa" (just behind the left hand goal at all the matches i've seen so far)?

the algerian's winner was a corker of a goal too, although matty holland comparing it to maradonna was possibly a *little* over the top...

And I haven't even mentioned the 5-3!

also: Senagal wuz robbed!

No thread for this year, so I'll revive this one.

I've seen more this year than in previous ones - or at least enough to make it worthwhile. Tournament has been dominated by second half yellow cards, I think there were seven in yesterday's Ghana/Mali game, but a large number of boring defensive games. Highlight thus far is undoubtedly Ethiopia's keeper being sent off while being stretchered off the pitch, following him kung-fu kicking a Zambian forward in the chest. Ethiopia were denied a goal in the first half after an absolutely ridiculous bounce of the ball when their forward lobbed the Zambian keeper.

Zambia have just drawn with Nigeria, their keeper scored a penalty with 5 minutes to go and saved one from John Obi Mikel in the first half. You can keep your Eden Hazards.

I read that Ethiopia, who have no Europe-based players except one in the Swedish league, were playing an attractive passing game, any truth to that? I love watching sides that are completely unknown quantities but can still play a bit, cf North Korea at the last WC.

Ethiopia were by far the better side in their first match and did play really nice football, but played for an hour with 10 men which curtailed their game a bit - that said, Zambia were dreadful at the back and should have been punished heavily. I'd guess if there's a result in tonight's Ethiopia/Burkina Faso game then the winner of that will top the group, especially if it's Ethiopa as Nigeria look woeful.

South Africa's group (them, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola) has probably been the dullest, Ghana's the one with the most fouls. Ivory Coast/Tunisia tomorrow will decide the winner of the group as those two are easily the best two teams in it.

Burkina 1-0 up at half time, but they've hit the post and passed the ball around beautifully. Unfortunately they've had to substitute both players who look likely to get them goals through injury, the first appears to have had a sudden pain in the cock after 3 minutes (nobody around him, completely off the ball) which he struggled with for 5 more before leaving the field in tears. This is the worst pitch in the competition though - it looked dry as concrete, with about as much grass, during the Nigeria game which they've 'cured' by dumping a couple of tons of sand on it.

Burkina's keeper gets a straight red, he's come for the ball and completely forgotten there's a thing called a penalty area. A country mile outside of the box.

Read this article the other day, it's on one of Ethiopia's forwards who grew up in the US. Doesn't look to have gotten on the field much yet if at all but it's an interesting story.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/18/sport/football/football-africa-cup-nations-ethiopia-fuad-ibrahim/index.html

but they've hit the post and passed the ball around beautifully. Unfortunately they've had to substitute both players who look likely to get them goals through injury,

is "they" here Burkina or Ethiopia?

Sorry, they is Ethiopia.

And as I type that, Burkina have a second.

End up with 4, naked men protesting on the pitch.

Ethiopia's goalkeeper just got red carded for a challenge on Victor Moses & all the subs have already been made.

Yeah, it's always heartwarming to see an outfield player pull on a keeper's jersey. Got pretty close to the penalty as well.

Maybe Drogba was holding them back

Heard that a lot around the 2010 world cup, that Did Drog basically appointed Sven Goran Eriksson as his own puppet coach.

Madagascar currently beating Nigeria 2-0. Both qualify but Madagascar will go through as group winners. I think this is the first time they’ve even qualified for the finals.

Beautifully worked South Africa goal three minutes away from knocking out the hosts, Egypt.

such a weird opener, the announcer didn't even realize it was a goal

and that's the goal that wins it for Algeria, wow

18ème going even more nuts tonight than for the last two games. Shirtless grown men on the shoulders of other shirtless grown men, singing the 123 chant

Sudan vs Guinea Bissau is going to be the eighth consecutive game to finish either 1-0 or 0-0 this tournament. The heat is definitely having an impact.

Senegal looked really poor vs Zimbabwe yesterday and were lucky to get a late penalty. Nigeria have looked the best value of the teams I’ve seen so far.

The keepers are performing well!

Following Sierra Leone because there's a league side partially funded through one of the Hereford fan groups, and mainly because Mustapha Bundu - who I thought was the best non-defender today - featured in our first season back (just don't mention Wembley).

I have a feeling that Gambia vs Mauritania could be the two goal thriller the tournament has been missing. I like Musa Barrow, currently at Bologna, a lot.

Jallow too!

so that Tunisia and Mali match, huh.

Cameroon! Banger

Stop stop he's already dead

Terrific goal from Balde.

Ah, VAR to Egypt’s rescue.

Algeria in real trouble here.

Algeria in real trouble here.

Iwobi bringing a touch of Everton to Nigeria’s AFCON campaign, coming on to replace a player on a yellow card and getting a straight red four minutes later. Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana all out now.

Comoros have a defender in goal as all their keepers have COVID.

And down to ten men after five minutes.

these refs are absolutely fucking atrocious

var -> penalty -> var -> red card -> repeat ad nauseam

The red was harsh but I could see it being given elsewhere. The penalties and cheap yellows adding up to reds have been a huge problem, though. There were two really soft second yellows earlier.

Not sure Comoros going with the guy who’s 5’8” as their stand in keeper was wise.

it's like they don't take force of challenge into account at all. if the bottom of your foot contacts an opponent at any speed, accidentally or otherwise, yer off son

fucking ban slo-mo in var and all

Just rolling back to say come on Super Scorpions! (I've spent a fair bit of time in The Gambia; lovely to see them getting so far.)

well they got goal of the tournament possibly sewn up at least

Fuck.

BBC reporting 6 people killed in crush at game tonight.

Crazy to give a red card for that. Completely accidental.

Let’s see if Senegal can get a shot on target vs nine men, having failed against ten.

gonna have to start invoking the c-word soon

actually having seen, the second one's more a red than the first imo, first def fits the 'sole of foot makes contact yer off', second one is wild and reckless goalkeeping, had to go

It’s obviously reckless goalkeeping but isn’t really ‘dangerous play’ and was a genuine attempt to win the ball, imo.

it's less a red for the dangerous nature of the collision and more for the 'keeper charges out of box, gets man not ball' thing, which is almost universally a red unless it's out on the wing, which isn't so much the case here

great malawi goal

Hakimi with the stunning free kick he has been threatening.

Burkina Faso deservedly through to the semis. Tunisia were really poor.

COME ON MOROCCO

C’mon Onana. I’m not watching Egypt do this again in the final.

Aaagh.

Horrendous pens

Yeah, you could have put the mortgage on Moukoudi and N’Jie not scoring just from their run-ups.

It was written in the stars that Mo and Sadio would meet in the final. So why I put that pre-tournament tenner on Morocco I'll never know

If Egypt win this, having scored three goals in six matches, excluding the one in extra time, I will be extremely mad. Greece managed six in 2004.

Get in sadio lad!!!!

I don’t think anyone fucked about with their run-ups - take note Cameroon!

lol where the fuck are these cunts taking the trophy