Nigeria Qualify…just

Nigeria have sneaked into the quarter finals of the 2008 African Cup of Nations with a competent if unconvincing 2-0 win over Benin. Second half goals from John Obi Mikel and Yakubu secured the Super Eagles’ passage to the knockout phase, but Berti Vogts’ men also owe their progress to Côte d’Ivoire, who beat Mali 3-0 in Accra. Mali had needed just a point to make it out of Group B alive but goals from Didier Drogba, Marc Zoro and Boubacar Sanogo saw off their challenge, and the Eagles will consequently be on the next plane home. The result sets up a mouthwatering quarter final clash between hosts Ghana and their major rivals Nigeria, in what should prove a tantalising new instalment of the West African derby. Côte d’Ivoire, having qualified top of the group, will play Group A runners up Guinea.

The Ivorians went into their match safe in the knowledge that they were already through to the quarter finals while Mali required just a draw to seal their progression, but after only ten minutes Didier Drogba fired the Elephants into the lead. Put clean through by Yaya Toure, the Chelsea hitman made no mistake in finding the net and with this strike Nigeria were handed the fortune they so desperately needed. Mali played a reserved game maintaining composure despite the goal deficit, but they badly missed the leadership of their captain Mahamadou Diarra who sat out the game with a suspension.

Over in Sekondi, the Super Eagles were defending resolutely as they have all tournament but once again struggled when it came to finding a breakthrough. Peter Odemwingie looked lively and offered a threat down the left hand side, but Benin fought well and were not afraid to push forward – Razak Omotoyossi looking particularly dangerous.

As the half time whistles went in Accra and Sekondi, Mali kept the upperhand in the group, and Berti Vogts headed to the dressing room for the Nigerian team-talk looking perplexed, his side having failed to register one single shot on goal.

The main surprise as the sides emerged for the second half was that Fredi Kanoute did not take to the field, substituted by Mali coach Jean-Francois Jodar in place of Juventus-bound Momo Sissoko. And in the 52nd minute the pendulum swung heavily in Nigeria’s favour as they took the lead with their first goal of the competition. Taye Taiwo’s powerful free-kick was parried to Odemwingie, and the Lokomotiv Moscow forward chipped it into the path of John Obi Mikel, who made no mistake in heading home. The sense of relief emanating from the Nigerian bench was palpable. Nine minutes later Mali went 2-0 down. Marc Zoro flicked in Siaka Tiene’s accurate corner and Côte d’Ivoire pushed further in front at the top of the group, giving Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying another massive boost in the process.

Paradoxically however, the second goal made no difference to the complexion of the group. With the head-to-head record between Mali and Nigeria identical just one more goal would have pushed Mali back into second place courtesy of a superior goals scored record. The games were still well-poised therefore, and tense as ever.

With the clock ticking and Mali heading perilously toward the Cup of Nations exit door Dramane Toure went agonisingly close to grabbing the goal the Eagles needed. Unfortunately for him and the whole Malian nation however his header bounced off the crossbar and was cleared to safety. And alas, Mali’s Cup of Nations dream finally died when, five minutes before the end, substitute Boubacar Sanogo made it 3-0 by slotting home from close range after Mahamadou Sidibe could only parry the excellent Yaya Toure’s rasping effort.

Nigerians everywhere could now taste victory and the quarter finals, and to their delight it was finally confirmed when in the 86th minute, the hitherto ineffective Everton striker Yakubu latched onto an incisive through ball from Mikel and coolly finished. At the final whistle, as a member of the Nigerian backroom staff lifted a relieved Berti Vogts off the ground in glee and the players celebrated with the fans, a sense of squad togetherness was finally on display from Nigeria – a world away from the back biting and negativity the previous two performances have generated. Perhaps now the Super Eagles will be brought together by the reprieve handed them thanks to Côte d’Ivoire, and maybe this will spark them into life in what has thus far been a lacklustre tournament showing.

It was tense, and the highest ranked African nation will certainly have to improve if they are to beat the hosts, but Nigeria are through to the last eight.

African Cup of Nations 2008: Observations

Côte d'Ivoire are the best team in the competition

Nigeria were not very impressive in their opening group game against the Elephants, but they were not that bad either. Tactically Berti Vogts made some odd decisions (Yakubu operating down the left hand side? Kanu as a roaming midfielder??) but one obvious lapse aside they defended well and had chances themselves, Obafemi Martins finding the keeper instead of the net when clean through being the main one. What really became clear in Sekondi was that, while there are many good sides in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire are the cream of the crop.

Their team spirit, European mentality, individual qualities and defensive prowess all mark them out as a class outfit, and they look to have a real chance of making this their second ever Cup of Nations triumph. Yaya Toure was outstanding against the Super Eagles, and the way both he and Didier Zokora track back when their opponents attack forms the kind of shield that offers no way through and allows the side to consistently pick up clean sheets. The one question mark concerns the fitness of Didier Drogba, who was not 100% against Nigeria but he is gradually picking up match fitness, looked sharp and scored against Benin and will grow in stature. I expect them to go far.

Shoot to score

Maybe it’s the attractive nature of the ‘wawa aba’ or maybe a lot of people are feeling confident in their abilities. Either way, it seems a lot of players so far have been keen to shoot on site, and there have already been some outstanding long range goals to behold. From Muntari to Zidan to Aboucherouane, players who find themselves in space are not afraid to have a go, which only adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the competition. Long may it continue.

Everyone wants to…win?!

In more or less every game so far both teams have taken to the field believing they can win the game and have set out to do so rather than attempting to contain the opposition and sneak a draw. All except for Benin that is, who unforgivably left out their best player Stephane Sessegnon for 53 minutes against Mali, preferring to try and restrain the Eagles with negative tactics and aggressive tackling. In fact not only are teams going on the offensive to try and win every game they play, they more or less all do so with intentions of going as far as they possibly can regardless of ranking or quality.

"We want to claim good results in Ghana to show that 2008 will be a year to remember for Sudanese sport," Sudan striker Haytham Tambal told the press on the eve of the competition – and his side are the joint worst favourites. Of course all teams will naturally talk themselves up pre-tournament, but from the passing, attacking style of football Sudan played against Zambia one cannot say they did not try to win the game. They simply failed to take the chances presented to them and were overrun by Zambia’s forceful midfield and more clinical strikeforce. It has been thoroughly refreshing to see players play for the love of the game and the effervescence many sides have shown in their willingness to go forward and attack the opponents has led to some exciting end-to-end football. This was no more evident than in Cameroon's 5-1 win over Zambia. 5-0 down, the Chipolopolo players continued to steam forward and search for goals, maintaining their commitment to and enjoyment of the sport.

Low in numbers, loud in voice

Despite tickets for games being as cheap as $4 USD at the lower end of the scale, attendances have been poor. According to the figures, Namibia v Morocco drew a crowd of just 1,000. This is a real shame because the reduced turnout has little to do with a lack of interest. There has always been a demand for tickets with many locals willing to see games, but there have been all manner of administrative errors from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in their handling of ticket affairs which has directly reduced numbers in the stands. Tickets went on sale in banks and post offices the week before the tournament, but many people are unaware that tickets cannot be bought on the door. This is a remarkable oversight given the number of fans travelling to games from outside Ghana, and has an adverse affect on attendance. Additionally many branches in rural or less populated areas of Ghana did not receive tickets on time and so would-be spectators have shown up only to learn, sadly, that tickets were unavailable. On top of this CAF sent a number of tickets to the wrong place. Glaring mistakes like these mean that unfortunately stadiums have been half-full, particularly for games with earlier kick-off times.

Nevertheless the atmosphere has still been frenzied and colourful, with pockets of fans keeping the atmosphere buoyant with their dedication to jovial song and dance. Not a game has gone by without the sound of trumpet fanfare filling the stadium, and many nations seem to have their own unofficial bands performing while their team plays, Senegal’s excellent collection of rhythmic drummers being a highlight. Low numbers, but the atmospheres are often electric all the same.

Let's get physical

Some of the challenges we have witnessed in the tournament so far have been nothing short of bone-crunching. The tackles have flown in and many of the games are as much about physical attributes as they are about strength. One thing is for certain if an English referee like Rob Styles or Steve Bennett was in charge, given their heavy-handed approach to officiating many of the games would end up having to be abandoned. A higher degree of leniency has certainly been shown by the officials in Ghana, but it has not been done at the expense of players' safety. Most of the challenges have been tough but fair, and throughout the tournament there have been very few instances of play-acting or excess feigning of injury - players seem to simply accept the physical nature of the sport, dust themselves down and get on with the game. Officials here appear to remember that football remains a contact sport, and the benefit of this stance has been an increased fluidity in games, with far fewer fussy stoppages of play. This has only added to the entertainment of what has so far proved a fascinating competition.

Not the Usual Suspects, but off to Wembley regardless

‘And like that…*pfff*…he was gone.’ Verbal Kint is referring to other matters entirely when he utters this defining quote in The Usual Suspects, but the abruptness he so skilfully captures with that gesture could just as easily be describing the cathartic release of tension experienced by Tottenham fans at White Hart lane after the 5-1 thumping of their greatest rivals Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg. Because for them, on that night, just as suddenly as Kevin Spacey’s character implies with that nonchalant puff of air against his fingers, the pain was gone. Over the course of a ninety minutes in which they blew away their old North London adversaries with thrilling, calculated, counter-attacking football all the lingering, painful memories of derbies gone by disappeared as if in a puff of smoke.

Nine long years of suffering, vanished. Twenty one games of bitter rage and sorrow, cleansed. Robbie Keane’s crucial penalty miss at the Emirates Stadium with the score poised at 1-1, forgotten. Cesc Fabregas in September, dictating the play at White Hart Lane as though it were his very own Subbuteo pitch, now but a distant recollection. Julio Baptista’s quickfire double at the same stage of the Carling Cup last season and the subsequent taunts from the Arsenal faithful who had just seen their side recover from 2-0 down, washed away. Flashbacks of Emmanuel Adebayor, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Kanu and others, erased. Grim memories of Thierry Henry carving them open time and time again, usually followed by the mercurial Frenchman trotting off towards the Spurs end to rub it in, scowling at the fans in their misery and triumphantly kissing the Arsenal badge. We could go on. Yes, Spurs fans have had to swallow a lot in this fixture over the years and with each passing failure the hatred has been buried deeper and deeper, albeit burning no less brightly.

All along they waited for a night like the one they have just witnessed. And finally it came, even more emphatically than they might ever have allowed themselves to dream, as Juande Ramos’ men provided in such a magnificent performance the perfect platform for Tottenham fans everywhere to cast off the shackles of all the disappointments and all the taunts, and discard them on the road to Wembley.

Of course Arsenal in defeat have two ready made explanations - one that they played their inexperienced youngsters and, failing that, the old fallback that it was only the Carling Cup, the ugly duckling of domestic trophies. Whichever way they wish to play it the truth is that neither excuse holds much weight. The eleven that started against Spurs have more than 550 top flight league appearances between them, and that is not including the likes of Adebayor, Fabregas and Eduardo da Silva who were all thrown on by Arsene Wenger at various stages of the game. Of the fourteen that took part, eight are full internationals. Citing inexperience is but fruitless rationale. And on the second point, granted it may be less significant to the Gunners than other trophies but Arsenal Football Club will always want to win a North London derby no matter the situation and particularly with a trip to Wembley at stake. For their part, the players certainly did not behave as though they believed it to be ‘just the Carling Cup,’ – Nicklas Bendtner’s sore nose bares testament to that. And as their fans left the stadium after sixty minutes, looking downcast and humiliated, one seriously doubts that they plodded off casually laughing to themselves, comforted by the insignificance of the occasion. Not with roughly 30,000 fans gleefully waving them off.

No, there is nothing comforting about a 5-1 mauling, and no excuse can mask the discomfort. But if the drubbing served up by Tottenham and the ensuing displays of sheer passionate joy and emotion showed us anything, it was the delicious ability of bitter footballing rivalries to re-invent themselves. Arsenal fans may not admit it, but privately that defeat and the ruthless manner in which it was executed will unquestionably have hurt them. And the jibes that followed, and will doubtless continue for days on end from Spurs fans will burn inside them until the two sides next meet, by which time Arsenal will be desperate for revenge. For now it is Tottenham who play centre stage, heading off to Wembley with bragging rights in tow while Arsenal find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to grin and bear it, relegated to North London’s undercard in the short term at least. And therein lies football’s intrinsic ability to reinvigorate itself. In just ninety minutes, the tables have turned.

Perhaps in going unbeaten for nine long years against their hated rivals, Arsenal forgot what makes this derby so intense. Maybe out of unbridled dominance has grown an underestimating of the magnitude of this great English derby. Well any complacency has been brutally punished, the result being that Arsenal now have a succinct reminder of exactly why they enjoyed beating the neighbours they so vehemently despise in the first place. And that is what being a football fan is all about. They say one high outweighs ten lows in football, which is why people, the fans, keep coming back. By winning so emphatically Tottenham’s one enormous high has blown away all the years of lows. And conversely for Arsenal, the humiliating low merely jogs the memory as to why the nine years of highs always felt so sweet. Just like that the roles have been reversed. The onus is now on Arsenal to emerge from all the mocking and settle the score when the two sides next meet, something they will no doubt be keen to do no matter what the circumstances. And so the saga continues.

picture courtesy of Getty Images

African Cup of Nations 2008: Odds and Rankings

Amidst all the furore and excitement in the build-up to the 2008 African Cup of Nations, FIFA has this week published its latest world rankings. Below is a list detailing exactly where all sixteen teams participating in Ghana fit onto the international leaderboard. In brackets are the overall world rankings for each country, while the number on the left hand side shows their standing in Africa alone:

Rankings:
1. Nigeria (19)
2. Cameroon (25)
3. Guinea (33)
4. Egypt (35)
5. Ivory Coast (38)
6. Morocco (39)
7. Senegal (40)
8. Ghana (43)
9. Tunisia (46)
10. Mali (47)
11. Zambia (67)
13. Angola (72)
17. South Africa (78)
23. Sudan (94)
23. Benin (94)
34. Namibia (119)

Odds:
Ghana - 7/2
Cameroon - 6/1
Ivory Coast - 3/1
Nigeria - 13/2
Egypt - 9/1
Senegal - 10/1
Morocco - 12/1
SouthAfrica - 14/1
Tunisia - 16/1
Mali - 18/1
Guinea - 25/1
Angola - 33/1
Zambia - 66/1
Namibia - 100/1
Sudan - 100/1
Benin - 100/1

As you can see, Nigeria remain Africa’s number one nation according to FIFA, closely followed by Cameroon and Egypt. The hosts Ghana are only looked upon as the 8th best team in Africa, while at the lower end of the scale the Brave Warriors of Namibia are 119^th in the world and only considered the 34th best team on the continent! Surely their position is due a rise soon given they have made the last sixteen of the African Cup of Nations.

As a comparison it is interesting to look at the odds for the tournament, taken from Bet365. Though the Super Eagles are ranked highest by FIFA this is not reflected in the odds for the competition at all, seeing them reduced to 4th favourites, while Ghana are considered the team to beat. Of course home advantage has a lot to do with that I’m sure. Meanwhile Guinea’s chances of lifting the trophy appear to have been dismissed by the bookmakers and the Syli Nationale come in at 25/1 despite their rank as Africa’s 3th best nation. Perhaps its worth a few Ghanaian cedi!

So with the previews done, the rankings established, the stadiums ready (just about), and the whole of Africa fraught with excitement – just who do you fancy to win the tournament? Will there be any shocks? Who do you predict will make a name for themselves? Get in touch and let us know. Just 2 days to go and I cannot wait!

African Cup of Nations 2008 Preview: Group D

Group D

Angola Senegal South Africa Tunisia

It is now tantalisingly close. Just four days before Ghana kick off the 2008 African Cup of Nations with their game against Guinea in Accra let us now cast our eyes over the final quartet, in Group D. If Group B is considered the 'Group of Death' then perhaps this is the 'Group of Life' as all four teams will realistically feel they have a chance of progressing. Its going to be tight in Tamale.

Angolan football has enjoyed a prosperous period in recent years, and in what looks like the draw’s most evenly balanced group coach Luís Oliveira Gonçalves will hope to navigate Angola into the knockout stages for the first time in their history. The Palancas Negras, (The Black Antelopes) have participated in the ACNs just three times before, most recently in 2006 when they finished third in their group behind Cameroon and DR Congo, but having sailed through qualifying this time around Angolan fans are optimistic the team will be able to draw on their experiences from the 2006 World Cup and propel themselves into the last eight. Angola scored the most goals of any team in Africa during qualification, including a 6-1 thrashing of group runners-up Eritrea, and after making light work of that opposition Gonçalves’ men are now presented with the chance to pit their wits against stronger rivals. Angola begin their campaign on 23^rd January 2008 against South Africa and this game will strongly indicate how they can expect to fare. Players to watch include Zé Kalanga, the Boavista right winger with pace to burn, Flavio (Al-Ahly), experienced striker and scorer of Angola’s only ever World Cup goal, and Manucho Gonçalves, the young Pedro Atletico frontman that is awaiting a work permit for a move to Manchester United. Manucho is a physical presence that has looked sharp in the build up to the competition, and he will be hoping to introduce himself to the world stage in Ghana before moving to Old Trafford.

Senegal were not wholly convincing in qualifying and left it to the last day before they secured their place in Ghana with a 5-1 win over Burkina Faso, but the Lions of Teranga eventually made it through and will compete in this their 11^th Cup of Nations. Starting with a game against Tunisia on the 23^rd January 2008, the West Africans are not generally fancied to go all the way and win the tournament, but they do have a number of capable players in the squad that should propel them to the quarter finals and maybe even further. El Hadji Diouf (Bolton Wanderers) is the captain, talisman and also the most capped Senegalese player, and the creative playmaker has been talking up his nation’s prospects prior to the tournament. "We have a very good team. We do not fear anyone...There are one or two teams that you don't want to play until the later stages of the tournament but there are not many teams that will want to play us." Diouf has never been one to lack confidence, and if he manages to hit form in Ghana the Lions of Teranga will be a dangerous side. Senegal have six other players at Premier League clubs in their squad, and Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye (both Newcastle United) and Papa Bouba Diop (Portsmouth) should form the defensive backbone of the team. A good attacking player to watch out for is Mamadou Niang, who has put in a number of impressive performances for Olympique Marseille this season. Senegal have never won the African Cup of Nations surprisingly, and Polish coach Henryk Kasperczak will be hoping he can guide the Lions to an historic success that would enrapture the nation.

South Africa were unceremoniously dumped out of their last ACNs campaign in Egypt 2006, losing all three games without so much as scoring a goal. Now, after installing Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach and presenting him the task of building a side the 2010 World Cup hosts can be proud of, Bafana Bafana have the first real opportunity to see what their young squad are capable of. South Africa scraped through to this competition as the last of three best runners-up, and their pre-tournament preparations have been dominated by headlines surrounding the surprise omission of Benni McCarthy, one of the best strikers ever to play for them. As such, a lot of uncertainty surrounds what is a largely inexperienced group ahead of the tournament. Parreira will be desperately hoping his brave decisions do not backfire and the young stars do not flop, particularly given his reportedly astronomical wage of USD $253,000 per month. Bafana Bafana fans will be watching closely to see if he can prove his worth. With McCarthy absent the main striking threat will come from Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld). He was top scorer for the South Africans in qualifying and offers pace and power in forward areas. Everton’s Steven Pienaar, recent subject of a bitter club-vs-country row, will also be a key player in midfield and will need to show the same level of flair and creativity he has for his club this season if South Africa are to qualify from what is an evenly matched group. Captain Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers) will participate in this his fourth African Cup of Nations, and harbours ambitions of helping Bafana Bafana lift what would be their second title.

Tunisia won this tournament for the first time in their history back in 2004, fully reaping the rewards of playing on home soil, but after losing their crown at the quarter final stage in Egypt they now arrive in Ghana seeking to regain the title as Africa’s finest. Under the guise of the vastly experienced French coach Roger Lemerre, now in his sixth year at the helm, Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage) finished second to Sudan over the course of their qualifying group but made it through as one of the best runners’-up. Tunisia will likely struggle to have the same impact they did in 2004 however, with the pool of players not as strong as back then, and recent criticisms of Lemerre’s side have been that they play too defensively and possess a dearth of players with real creativity. Issam Jemâa (FC Caen) was one of Africa’s leading goalscorers in the qualifying campaign, joint top with five goals, and he along with naturalised Brazilian Francileudo Santos (Toulouse) will be expected to lead the line and provide the flair. Look out also for Yassine Chikhaoui (FC Zurich). The 21-year old attacking midfielder/striker is a prodigious talent and is already attracting the likes of Ajax, Marseille and Lyon. A good showing in Ghana may well persuade a chairman or two to open their chequebooks. Mohamed Chermiti (Etoile du Sahel) is another young forward player that has shown promise for his club side.

Prediction: This is the toughest group to call. Senegal look to have enough to qualify, but after that all three are evenly matched. I fancy the winner of the South Africa v Tunisia game on 27th January 2008 to go through. Er…Senegal and Tunisia.

African Cup of Nations 2008 Preview: Group C

With the African Cup of Nations 2008 just days away and the excitement building let us continue the tournament preview with a look at Group C. The picture you see on your right is the match ball that will be used throughout the competition, named the 'wawa aba.' Pretty smart I say, what do you reckon?

Group C
Cameroon Egypt Sudan Zambia

Cameroon made light work of their qualification group to reach Ghana, winning all but one of their games, and bookmakers are certainly not wrong when assessing them as one of the hot favourites for the trophy. The Indomitable Lions will look to go all the way and equal Egypt’s all-time record of five ACNs triumphs, and with the calibre of players at coach Otto Pfister’s disposal it would take a brave man to bet against them being there or thereabouts come February. They also have a favourable group draw which sees them avoid some of the more fancied teams potentially until the semi-final stages, and as such the nation’s fans will be expecting nothing less than a place in the last four if only to try and erase painful memories of the team’s failure to make it to the World Cup in 2006. Cameroon’s star man needs no introduction – Samuel Eto’o is one of the best strikers in the world and a key player for Catalan giants FC Barcelona. A two time winner of this tournament, Eto’o was the top scorer in the 2006 ACNs, but will be looking to put behind him his decisive penalty miss in the shootout with Côte d'Ivoire at the quarter final stage two years ago. Barcelona were hopeful that Eto’o would neglect the tournament in favour of helping out his club through a tricky spell, but the decision to represent his country is a major boost for Cameroon. The Lions have quality in all areas of the pitch, and Lille’s Jean Makoun is also worth a mention as an impressive midfield force that is strong in the tackle and capable of driving the team on. Certainly, they should coast through the group.

Egypt are the most successful nation in ACNs history with five wins, but go into this tournament with injury problems that may well hinder them in the defence of the crown they won back in 2006. Mohamed Barakat (Al-Ahly) has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, while Ahmed Mido Hossam (Middlesbrough) is also unable to participate because of a groin problem. Both are key players for the Pharaohs, and the creativity and goals the pair bring to the side will be sorely missed. Anderlecht midfielder and national captain Ahmed Hassan’s importance to the team only increases in their absence, while promising striker Amr Zaki (El Zamalek) will be relied on for goals. Egypt went unbeaten in qualifying but with three draws their passage to Ghana was only secured in the final game with a 1-0 win against Botswana - many feel they should not have laboured so much in what was a limited group. Group C will likely prove far more testing for them, starting with the Cameroon game in Kumasi on 22nd January 2008. The defending champions may find it tough to retain their title but will be positive about making the knockout stages, and should they qualify the good memories and valuable experience of the 2006 triumph could well spur them on further.

Sudan are playing in their first Cup of Nations since 1976, and the noises coming from the Nile Crocodiles’ camp suggests they are confident of making a name for themselves in Ghana. After topping their qualification group ahead of a Tunisian side with far more experience, they have every right to be positive. "We want to claim good results in Ghana to show that 2008 will be a year to remember for Sudanese sport," striker Haytham Tambal (Al-Merreikh) told local papers, and a lot will depend on his performances upfront having proved an influential player in qualifying. Sudan is Africa’s largest country with 2.5 million square kilometres in area, but as a breeding ground of footballing talent it has not produced the number of quality players in recent times that the nation’s size might imply. Now given the chance to play on the big stage the one-time African champions will be hoping to do themselves justice. The squad is made up of local talent drawn from just two sides, Sudanese champions Al Hilal and cup winners Al Merreikh, meaning Sudan bring a truly local flavour to the competition. Coach Mohammed Abdallah caused a stir in leaving attacking midfielder Faisal Agab (Al-Merreikh) out of his provisional squad despite Agab’s contribution as top scorer in qualifying with five goals, but he has since been restored to the 23 man squad. The Nile Crocodiles will need to beat Zambia in their first group game on 22nd January 2008 if they are to have any hope of qualifying, but they may well struggle to cope with the ability of their other Group C rivals. Regardless, simply qualifying for the tournament already makes this a year to remember for Sudanese football fans.

Zambia managed to finish above South Africa in qualifying, and consequently will compete in this their 12th ACNs. Twice tournament runners-up, the southern African nation were eliminated at the group stages in 2006 and one suspects the same fate could befall them in Ghana due to the calibre of opposition they will face. Known as the Chipolopolo (surely the best nickname ever), many of the players that took part in the 2006 ACNs are involved this time around and as such the country’s fans will look for their team to build on past experiences and cause the group favourites problems. Experience was not the main criteria for squad selection however, and the major story in Zambia building up to this tournament was the dropping of two of their more seasoned professionals Collins Mbesuma and Elijah Tana. Both were deemed too out of shape to participate by coach Patrick Phiri, and subsequently left out. The national team nickname translates as the ‘Copper Bullets’ and in strikers Jacob Mulenga (RC Strasbourg) and Christopher Katongo (Brondby) Zambia will be hoping the ammunition is there to help them achieve. They begin with a must-win game against Sudan on the 22nd before facing Cameroon. Zambian midfielder Andrew Sinkala (SC Paderborn) has been ruled out of the tournament along with defender and former captain Moses Sichone (Kickers Offenbach), but it is not all doom and gloom for Phiri and Zambia as their pre-tournament preparations began with an impressive 2-1 win over Tunisia. If they can maintain the level of performance they managed in that game, the Chipolopolo might just raise a few eyebrows.

Prediction: The collective enthusiasm of both Sudan and Zambia may well ruffle a few feathers here, and any complacency from the group favourites will surely be punished by two confident sides with nothing to lose. However the superior footballing qualities of Cameroon and Egypt should see them both through.

African Cup of Nations 2008 Preview: Group B

Group B

Benin Ivory Coast Mali Nigeria

When the draw for the competition was made back in October, Group B was immediately tagged the ‘Group of Death’ and on closer inspection it is not hard to see why. Côte d'Ivoire will make their 17^th appearance in the tournament and are thought well-equipped to make it all the way to the final as they did in 2006. The only wish for their fans is that they can go one step further this time and triumph for what would be their second time. Since taking over from Henri Michel in 2006 German coach Uli Stielike has inherited one of the best squads in Africa with several players plying their trade at top clubs around Europe, and if the team play with the power, pace and aggression for which they are renowned then they will take some beating. Les Éléphants possess players of real quality all over the pitch; a solid foundation built around brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure (Arsenal and Barcelona respectively) alongside the tenacity and guile of Didier Zokora (Tottenham); attacking pace and flair provided by the likes of Arouna Koné (Sevilla) and Kader Keita (Lyon), and in their talismanic striker Didier Drogba (Chelsea) they have arguably the best striker in world football right now. Drogba’s season has been interrupted by injury thus far however, and the hopes of a nation could well rest on his level of fitness. The southern city of Sekondi will play host to this group, and because of its close proximity to the Côte d'Ivoire thousands of fans are expected to travel to support their team. The opening group game against Nigeria could well be essential in determining who qualifies.

Nigeria too will be marshalled in this tournament by a German manager. Berti Vogts, much maligned during his time in charge of Scotland, vowed never to return to management after experiencing a heavy amount of abuse during his tenure there, but clearly had a change of heart after three years out of the game, leading him to pastures new in West Africa. He will look to coach the Super Eagles to what would be their third ACNs victory. Nigeria have had a turbulent few years on the world stage, meekly exiting the 2002 World Cup in the first round and then failing to even make it to Germany in 2006. An exciting generation of players whose highlight was winning the 1996 Olympic Games has moved on, and though they look set to be replaced by another promising batch of youngsters, those who won the U-17s World Cup back in September 2007, this African Cup of Nations arrives too early for many of them. Nonetheless the Super Eagles still have an abundance of talent in their ranks, and will look to the likes of John Utaka (Portsmouth), Yakubu (Everton) and John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) to carry the hopes of the fans. Nwankwo Kanu’s experience will also be an important weapon for Nigeria, and as captain he will participate in his fifth straight ACNs. The Portsmouth frontman's leadership will be vital in guiding the team through a tricky group. Nigeria have picked up the bronze medal in their last three consecutive ACNs, and will be keen to better that this time around.

Benin are making only their second ever appearance in the ACNs but although they lack experience at this level they proved in qualifying that they cannot be taken lightly, finishing ahead of a Togo side that looked stronger on paper. They too are managed by a German coach now, after Reinhard Fabisch recently agreed to take over from Wabi Gomez but, given such a testing draw, Fabisch will have his work cut out to get Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels) any further than the group stage. Benin’s main problem is a shortage of quality players, with a narrow pool of players for the West African nation to choose from. The Benin Football Federation recently tried to address this by advertising on its website for players that might be eligible to play for them, but despite some interest many of the players that responded still do not have much senior experience. Oumar Tchomogo (Portimonense) provided a goal threat in the qualifying campaign, securing Benin’s place in the tournament with two goals in their final game against Sierra Leone, but really it will be nothing short of a miracle if they qualify from such a strong group.

Mali are not to be taken lightly. Playing in their fifth ACNs, they have reached the semi-finals in their last two appearances and currently have a maturing and capable side that has enough to pose group favourites Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire problems. In Fredi Kanoute (Sevilla) they have one of world football’s most consistent performers in 2007 and a worthy candidate for African Footballer of the Year, while going forward they have players of creativity and pace - Kanoute’s Sevillan teammate Seydou Keita to name but one. Real Madrid’s Mahamadou Diarra will add steel and strength to the midfield, and Mali also boast a resolute defence that conceded just one goal in qualifying. That said, the group draw has not been entirely favourable for The Eagles, pitting them against two of the tournament’s strongest sides. They will have to demonstrate the sort of steely resolve they managed in qualifying, where they knocked out Togo on their own soil in a hostile and ultimately dangerous environment, if they are to make it out of the group.

Prediction: There are some captivating fixtures in this well-matched group, but the Nigeria v Mali game on the 25^th January 2008 should prove crucial in determining who goes through. Mali must get something from that game if they are to qualify, I feel. Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire to advance.

African Cup of Nations 2008 Preview: Group A

The year 2008 kicks off with a feast of football in Africa, as Ghana prepares itself to host the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations this January. Sixteen teams from around the continent are set to battle it out for the trophy as holders Egypt look to defend their crown, and with the group draw throwing up some mouth-watering clashes it promises to be an exciting month ahead for African football.

51 years since its inception in 1957, the tournament has now grown to include the whole continent – a far cry from the first instalment which involved just four participants, later reduced to three when South Africa was disqualified for its government’s apartheid policies. Nowadays the participating nations must first go through qualifying rounds before making it to the finals, where the elite sixteen teams then compete to be crowned Kings of Africa. Egypt have won not only the first but also the most recent tournament, and as five time winners are the most successful country in Cup of Nations history. Ghana and Cameroon trail with four victories each, and as the two pre-tournament favourites both sides will be hoping to equal that distinctive record.

Unfortunately in England the tournament is often considered an inconvenient distraction, with managers complaining it robs them of key players at an important stage of the season, and so the prestige and history of the competition is sometimes ignored in favour of contemptuous outbursts from the likes of Joe Jordan and Avram Grant, who scorn the tournament for having the temerity to get in the way of the self-proclaimed Best League in the World ™. Despite this the African Cup of Nations maintains its rich history, and some of the finest players in the game are once again set to represent their countries in 2008.

Over the coming days let us look at the four different groups and assess how the teams involved may fare:

Group A
Ghana Guinea Morocco Namibia

Ghana have been installed as pre-tournament favourites for the competition, and with some of the players at the disposal of their French coach Claude LeRoy it is not hard to see why. Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari have both excelled for their Premier League clubs this season at Chelsea and Portsmouth respectively, and with Udinese’s Asamoah Gyan a threat upfront the Black Stars possess three players that could light up the tournament. Essien will without doubt be the driving force for Ghana with LeRoy looking to him to provide the strength, tenacity and drive he is so renowned for at Stamford Bridge, and his significance is all the more now with news that Ghana’s captain Stephen Appiah will miss the tournament due to complications from a knee injury. "It was difficult for me to sleep when I heard the news that he was out. It's a huge problem," LeRoy told the BBC, and his distressed tone only emphasises Appiah’s importance to the team. His absence will be a major blow on the pitch, but LeRoy has allowed him to join up with the squad regardless, to provide leadership and inspiration off it. Ghanaians everywhere will be hoping their side can be the third consecutive nation to win the tournament as hosts (with Egypt and Tunisia before them), and it is interesting to note that in all of the last six competitions going back to 1996, the host nation has at least made it to the semi finals. The Black Stars aim to continue this trend, and with the home crowd behind them should certainly come through Group A at the very least. The fans have high expectations however, and are very much looking at this tournament as the chance to register their fifth Nations Cup triumph.

Guinea are a compelling outfit. Though they have never won the tournament and are again ranked as outsiders, they can certainly be seen as a threat to the two Group A favourites Ghana and Morocco, and may well surprise a few people if they get their rhythm going. They have made it to the last eight in their two previous African Cup of Nations campaigns (ACNs) and with a promising level of attacking talent in their ranks they will not be easy pickings. The pace and guile of Ismael Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev) upfront will be complimented by St. Etienne’s attacking midfielder and Guinea captain Pascal Feindouno, while the team also possess speed and trickery down the flanks. In Bangoura, Guinea have a player with cutting edge and an eye for goal, as demonstrated by some impressive displays for Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League this season, and if Feindouno can show his usual creativity then the ammunition may be well there for Guinea to qualify from Group A. Defensively they are perhaps not the strongest though, and Celtic’s Bobo Balde will need to adequately marshal the backline for the Syli Nationale to progress. They will be aiming to gatecrash the party on the opening day of the tournament when they face hosts Ghana, but the outcome of their game against Morocco on 24th January 2008 should prove pivotal in shaping the group.

Morocco, beaten finalists in the last tournament, made it to Ghana by winning their qualifying group with few difficulties and will now seek to go one step further by registering what would be only the second ACNs triumph in their history. However, though they performed valiantly in 2006, Henri Michel’s side may well struggle to go so far this time around. While their organisation and tactical ability should continue to mark them down as difficult opponents, they are not as creative as other contenders for the crown, particularly with the news that Anderlecht’s Mbark Boussafa will miss the tournament through injury. Boussafa was Belgium’s Player of the Year in 2006 but will not have the opportunity to showcase his talents in Ghana, which is a real shame for Henri Michel and Morocco. Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux) appears to be the main threat upfront. With Group B opposition awaiting the qualifiers from this group there is potential that even if the Lions de l’Atlas do qualify they will face one of Nigeria, Ivory Coast or Mali in the next round, so if they do go on to make it to the final they will have certainly earnt it.

Namibia, one suspects, will be the whipping boys of this group. Recently ranked 113th in the world and taking part in only their second ever Nations Cup tournament, the Brave Warriors will prove 100% true to their nickname if they make it out of a group which seems just too strong for them. A heroic qualifying campaign concluded with a dramatic 3-2 win against Ethiopia that saw them through to this their first ACNs since 1998, but it will be difficult for them to overcome their inexperience at this level, and their pre-tournament position as rank outsiders seems justified. Dutch coach Arie Schans will take charge of Namibia for the tournament after the death of former tactician Ben Bamfuchile, who passed away having guided the south-west nation to the finals.

Prediction: Ghana and Morocco qualify, Guinea narrowly miss out.

Up for the Cup!! (Or Not)

The festive period is often seen as the perfect occasion to look back and reflect on the year gone by. It provides a timely opportunity to share in the good times, contemplate the not-so-good times, and evaluate priorities for the year ahead. For many it also means a few days of well earned rest, though this is not quite the case for professional footballers plying their trade in England as they embark on a rigorous Christmas fixture schedule that sees many in for training even on Christmas Day. Despite this, Reading’s Dave Kitson still managed to find a few moments in between mouthfuls of turkey to reflect, to establish his main objectives for the New Year and to disregard the frivolous, unimportant distractions. And it seems that for Kitson, the world’s oldest cup competition falls very much into the latter category.

For just days before his side’s FA Cup 3rd round tie with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, the Reading striker saw fit to come out and publicly deride the competition, reducing it to little more than an irrelevant inconvenience. "We are not going to win the FA Cup and I do not care less about it, to be honest," said Kitson dismissively. "I care about staying in the Premier League, as does everybody at this club. Our league status is not protected by winning the FA Cup - simple as that." Strong words indeed. Looking at it firsthand, perhaps these were just harmless thoughts from a tired man in need of a rest; the views of someone mischievously seeking a profile-raising headline or two. Not to be taken too seriously. But when the vidiprinters came in at 5.00pm on Saturday and showed an unusually high number of Premiership casualties, Kitson’s comments suddenly became harder to ignore.

As though a clairvoyant spokesman for the Premier League’s less ambitious, the Reading striker’s words started to hold weight. Only six top-flight clubs managed to qualify outright for the 4th round this weekend, and with some all-Premiership replays still to come at least eight sides from England’s top division will be out by mid-January. That’s at least 40% of the Premiership gone in one foul swoop, without even considering tricky replays for Derby and Fulham.

Perhaps Kitson’s sentiments are echoed more widely then?

Well from his statement, the underlying issue is the growing sense that getting to and staying in the Premiership is now the be-all and end-all for a vast number of clubs in the top division. This is difficult to contradict. When Fulham recently sacked Lawrie Sanchez, the club statement’s mention of the prospect of Premiership extinction resembled the same teary-eyed, downcast apprehension a child might reserve for a beloved grandparent threatened with an old people’s home. "Losing Premiership status is a proposition that simply cannot be contemplated," they whimpered, and the financial rewards survival currently brings mean that merely staying up is now considered a success in its own right. With that all other ambitions fall by the wayside. Why burn out your players for a couple of grand and a place in the last 32 when finishing 16th earns millions? From the realist’s point of view maybe Kitson has a point.

But the FA Cup is not about realism. Pragmatism is all well and good but it does not perpetuate dreams. Realistically Wimbledon’s ‘Crazy Gang’ shouldn’t have been anywhere near the upper divisions, let alone a cup final. Realistically Leeds should have stomped all over Sunderland. Realistically Havant and Waterlooville should have been dumped out of the tournament during the qualifying rounds. ‘The magic of the cup’ may well be a tired, over-used cliché but the fact remains that, invariably, the fairytales can and do happen. And they cannot be looked upon as unattainable relics from a past age untouched by money and rampant commercialism either. Millwall and Southampton can attest to that, with the former a far more limited side than Reading are now. True they may not have gone all the way, but with Kitson’s attitude neither would have even got close to offering their fans the memories of a cup final.

Additionally, aside from the fact that as Rio Ferdinand pointed out, professional footballers should not have it in them to pick and choose which games they care about, Kitson’s supporting argument that his ambivalence to the cup was caused by fatigue from a busy league schedule is completely redundant given that clubs in the lower leagues have more or less the exact same Christmas programme and must cope with fewer numbers in terms of squad depth. All but one of the players that played in Huddersfield Town’s 2-1 win over Birmingham City was involved for the club over the Christmas period for example.

Therefore, if anything, the weekend’s upsets can be looked upon as a great positive for the FA Cup, because if certain Premiership clubs and players cannot even disguise their apathy for the competition they may as well be replaced by those lower down the leagues, for whom it still means something. Dave Kitson may be satisfied with nothing more than finishing 16th and staying in the Premiership his whole career. And of course, repeated survival would earn his club millions. But will such an undesiring attitude win him anything? Is it right to settle for the unexceptional? Because his comments only serve to give the impression that the vast amounts of money swirling around English football right now have brought about, for some at least, the dampening of sporting ambition in favour of lucrative mediocrity.