African Cup of Nations 2008
Introduction
Team Previews/Squad lists
Fixtures/Results/Standings
The African Nations Cup, the continent’s top competition, is set to continue its evolution into a true world event as more and more internationally recognised stars head to the finals in Ghana.
But it is these very players who have cast a shadow over the 26th editon as complaints have increased over the tournament’s timing. Club managers across Europe, too, are left frustrated at having to do without their African players for up to six weeks at a key point in the season.
In fact, this could be the last time the finals are played at such a time. The Confederation of African Football has consistently ignored the crescendo of complaints from Europe but with such leading African players as Samuel Eto’o, Michael Essien and El Hadji Diouf voicing their concerns about the impact the timing of the tournament has on their careers change appears to be on the horizon.
Privately, CAF officials have been talking about smoving the tournament to a New Year’s start in 2010, meaning the impact on European clubs coming out of the winter break would not be as bad as currently, yet would still not benefit the majority.
Most players want a summer switch but there are problems here, too – and not just with the scorching weather at that time of year. The tournment, being staged in an even-numbered year, would clash with European Championships and World Cups, playing havoc with its exposure. Moving it to an odd year might be an answer.
One thing is is for sure. The increased amount of venom directed at the schedulers reflects the growing role Africa’s best players have among the top club sides in Europe.
The spin-offs for the Nations Cup are positive indeed, particularly given the growing world focus on the tournament. Superstars such as Eto’o, Essien, Didier Drogba and Freddie Kanoute will help to attract a bigger international TV audience than ever, and the quality of the players could make these the best finals yet.
The number of players from leading European first division clubs increases with each finals, and this time round there is a wider array than ever of high-profile coaches, such as Germans Berti Vogts and Uli Stielike, France’s Henri Michel, Robert Nouzaret and Roger Lemerre, and Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.
There should also be increased competitiveness since several countries have risen to join the ranks of traditional superpowers Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia. The list of potential winners now also includes Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal, with even Guinea an outside bet. The latter are the third highest placed African country in the FIFA rankings, although that seems overrated given the team’s far from fluid qualifying campaign.
Guinea meet Ghana on January 20 in the opening game in the capital, Accra, where the Ohene Djan stadium is one of four refurbished or newly constructed for the event.
The chase to meet building deadlines has overshadowed the build-up. The Ohene Djan was ready in November but the others were not due to be competed until just a few days before kick-off. The choice of the northern town of Tamale as one of the four venues defies belief, given that it has only one decent hotel, leaving teams, officials, media and fans in a scramble to find alternate accommodation in schools, hostels or private homes.
Ghana, hosting the Nations Cup for the fifth time, seem to have over-extended their hand. The local organising committee has been a den of intrigue, fuelled by personality clashes and vested interests. There are likely to be none of the comforts that characterised the last two events in Tunisia and Egypt.
The two other venues are Kumasi and Sekondi, both with new stadiums built by Chinese contractors. Sekondi is just over the border from Ivory Coast, who should thus get plenty of support – much needed, given the Elephants are in the tough Group B, alongside Mali and Nigeria.
In Group C at Kumasi, Egypt and Cameroon are likely to hold sway against Zambia and Sudan – the latter in the finals for the first time in more than three decades at the end of a heady year for their club sides, who found unexpected success in continental competition.
The evenly-balanced, Tamale-based Group D features 2006 World Cup finalists Tunisia and Angola up against Senegal and South Africa. The latter’s coach, Parreira, seeks to use the tournament to help mould a team for the hosting of the 2010 World Cup. Ghana, based in Accra, should progress from Group A which also features Guinea, Morocco and Namibia.
Team Previews/Squad lists
Fixtures/Results/Standings
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