The Africa Cup of Nations has started! I can't see any of it on TV unfortunately, but I'm in the mood for a bit of a warmer-up for Euro 2008, so I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread on it.

Host country Ghana is off to a good win, having (narrowly) beaten Guinea. In the same group Morocco trashed Namibia, 5-1.

In group B, Cote d'Ivoire (one of my picks for a likely winner) beat Nigeria! No results yet on the other match in the group, Mali-Benin.


Your thoughts on this tournament, and who might win it of course, are welcome!

More info:
http://en.soccerway.com/international/africa/africa-cup-of-nations/
http://voetbalinafrika.web-log.nl/voetbalinafrika/ (Dutch)

I wish they would show the games here. I like Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire as favorites, but I think Ghana will take it all, at home.

tbh, im not very fond of this cup. it reminds me of the womens world cup: blind referees, crap defenders, even worse goalkeepers and all the times this nerve killing tooting...

It really should be held after the end of the season in Europe, since that is wher most of the players are plying their trade nowadays.

It really should be held after the end of the season in Europe, since that is wher most of the players are plying their trade nowadays.

I agree. It's completely retarded like it is.

but then it's impossible to hold the cup in any north african country, since the temparatures are much too high in summer. but they could at least change the tournament cycle to four years instead of two.

why can't the leagues, that are moaning about this, just change and introduce a winter break? it's a bit patronising in my eyes to demand the africans to bow down to the rich europeans.

but then it's impossible to hold the cup in any north african country, since the temparatures are much too high in summer. but they could at least change the tournament cycle to four years instead of two.

why can't the leagues, that are moaning about this, just change and introduce a winter break? it's a bit patronising in my eyes to demand the africans to bow down to the rich europeans.

It's not just the Europeans though. I think they'd have the problem if their player would play in Asia or Latin America.

well, the afc sometimes holds its tournaments in the winter aswell, depending on where the tournament takes places. they even played in november or october, but since the particpating players don't play such an important role in the europan leagues, nobody gives a damn.

maybe i am old fashioned - and maybe another reason is that the bundesliga isn't that relevant like the pl or serie a - but i still rate an international tournament higher than a league. at least ideally, not financially. and i guess the fifa sees it that way aswell, otherwise they would have pressurized the afc/caf to change their mode.

i favour a compromise. if the club teams are really concerned and fear financial and sporting losses, they should introduce that break, while the afc reduces the cycle to 4 years.

well, the afc sometimes holds its tournaments in the winter aswell, depending on where the tournament takes places. they even played in november or october, but since the particpating players don't play such an important role in the europan leagues, nobody gives a damn.

Look for Portsmouth squad or squads of some French teams. African players play an important role in big teams. And Chelsea too, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba are important to Chelsea.

Yes I think people in Europe do give a damn, hence all the fuzz. I guess the AFC will eventually be forced to adapt to the leagues though.

About the tournament itself: After all groups have played their first matches everything still looks wide open, though Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa seem to be under performing. It could get interesting.

Look for Portsmouth squad or squads of some French teams. African players play an important role in big teams. And Chelsea too, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba are important to Chelsea.

Don't forget Kalou.

AFAIK most of the players playing in the tournament play for European clubs.

sorry, i didn't make clear that the "afc" is the asian football confederation and the "caf" is the african one.

and of course the european leagues do care about their african star players, at least financially.

so how should it work, when the african cup is held in summer? are countries like egypt expected to never host a cup again then? or are the players expected to competitively play at 40 degrees? what about the rainy seasons in west africa from april till october? what about the supporters? the stadiums aren't roofed, so either the sun burns down on them or the rain falls.

it is for a reason that the caf holds its tournament in the winter and i think the europeans should accept that and adapt to it.

besides, having a winter break means better regeneration for the players at home and may lead to less injuries.

Don't forget Kalou.

AFAIK most of the players playing in the tournament play for European clubs.


Kalou isn't that important for Chelsea.

Okay, replace Kalou with Jon Obi Mikel.

Replace Mikel With Drogba and then you have a world class player.

I mentioned Drogba in my original post that warpus quoted. :rolleyes:

So Ghana is through in group A (http://en.soccerway.com/international/africa/africa-cup-of-nations/2008-ghana/group-stage/group-a/). Morocco is 2nd in that group, even though Guinea has the same amount of points, and won their confrontation, but maybe they've got different rules there.

Group B (http://en.soccerway.com/international/africa/africa-cup-of-nations/2008-ghana/group-stage/group-b/) looks really interesting. Mali looks likely to go through, but Nigeria has a small chance too, perhaps they'll cling on to that one. Who knows?

IMO Nigeria has better chances to qualify. They still haven't played their match against Benin, and Mali won them only 1-0. I'm pretty sure that Nigeria will win Benin by a couple of goals, giving them edge over Mali, who I think will lose to Ivory Coast.

IMO Nigeria has better chances to qualify. They still haven't played their match against Benin, and Mali won them only 1-0. I'm pretty sure that Nigeria will win Benin by a couple of goals, giving them edge over Mali, who I think will lose to Ivory Coast.

Yes, but they will have to fight for it though. It would be quite a surprise to see them eliminated.

the competition has reached it´s match finale

I think Egypt has all what it takes to snatch it with this remarkable performance

Egypt was excellent against Ivory Coast. I both think and hope that you guys win. :)

My bids on Egypt. Ivory coast will win 3rd to.

and the Egyptians are the kings again

and the Egyptians are the kings again

I missed the final, but I heard it was quite a bad match. But then again, most finals are...

I just feel sorry for Rigobert Song, his performance in the earlier games were something completely different than his awful mistake, that led to Aboutrika's goal.

What do you guys think: how long before we see an African team in the final of a WC? Or what are the chances we'll ever see an African team reach that far?

What do you guys think: how long before we see an African team in the final of a WC? Or what are the chances we'll ever see an African team reach that far?


Perhaps there's a 5% chance every edition (I don't really know), but that will rise as Africa becomes more and more developed.

The chance that we'll ever see an African team in the final is almost 100%. I think the WC is here to stay around for a while, so even if the odds stay at 5%, it's got to happen some time.

What do you guys think: how long before we see an African team in the final of a WC? Or what are the chances we'll ever see an African team reach that far?

I can't see it happening in the near future.

African team will be on the WC final as soon as some nation has the tactics of Egypt, attack of Ivory Coast, midfield of Ghana, a couple of good defenders and a goalkeeper, who can save his team with fantastic saves if needed(Al-Hadari, Kameni).