AFRICAN SAFARI ::::: Sudipta Sur
FIXTURES AND RESULTS
The stage is set for an African Safari. The MTN African Cup of Nations 2008 kicks off on 20th January when host nation, Ghana, lock horns with Guinea at the Ohene Djan Stadium in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. The cream of African football prepares to battle for supremacy in the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations which culminates at the 44,000 capacity Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, on 10th February. Football lovers expect to witness some African magic on the playing fields of Ghana!
TEAMS
GROUP A ::: Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Namibia
Ghana is one of the favorites, not only to top the group, but also to win the championship. Guided by experienced Frenchman, Claude Le Roy, the “Black Stars” have in their ranks world class players like Michael Essien (Chelsea), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth) and Asamoah Gyan (Udinese). Essien is the fulcrum of the team and in the absence of regular captain, Stephen Appiah, has more responsibilities to shoulder. The “Black Stars”, with home advantage, are surely one of the best bets in the tournament.
Guinea could well turn out to be the surprise package in this tournament. Currently the third best team in Africa (according to FIFA); they are managed by Robert Nouzaret. Players to watch out for are Celtic centre-back Bobo Balde and Pascal Feindouno (St. Etienne).
2004 runners-up, Morocco, should be comfortable second favorites in this group after Ghana. Henri Michel was given the reigns of the “Atlas Lions” after the authorities surprisingly replaced Mohammed Fakhir. Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, Youssef Safri, Talal El Karkouri, Badr El Kaddouri (Dynamo Kiev) and Michael Chretien (Nancy) are the mainstays of the team.
Namibia enters the competition to honour the memory of their coach, Ben Bamfuchile, who passed away recently. Not much is expected from the team though, a bottom of the group finish a most likely outcome. However, the likes of Collin Benjamin (Hamburg), Mohamed Ouseb and Lazarus Kaimbi are determined to prove detractors wrong.
GROUP B - Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria
Newly appointed German coach, Reinhard Fabisch, of Benin would be cursing his luck that his team has been placed in the “group of death”. Alain Gaspoz, Stephane Sessegnon and company know very well the Herculean task awaiting them.
With a host of big names in their squad Cote d’ Ivoire is arguably the team best equipped to win the trophy. Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers in the world, is set to light up the tournament. He will be ably supported by his Chelsea compatriot, Salomon Kalou, Abdul Kader Keita (Lyon) and the Kone brothers, Arouna and Bakary. With a creative midfield (Yaya Toure and Didier Zokora) aided by a rock solid defence (Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue), opposition teams can expect an “Elephants” stampede.
Malians are used to seeing their team go far in the African Cup of Nations and with star names in the squad that could definitely happen again if they progress from this group. Mali has three big names: Fredi Kanoute (Sevilla), Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid) and Momo Sissoko (Liverpool).
Nigeria, the highest ranked team in this competition, is expecting to win it. The “Super Eagles” are managed by German legend, Berti Vogts. Every single outfield player earns his money in a European league. The “Super Eagles” are particularly strong upfront, with the searing pace of both Obefemi Martins (Newcastle United) and the less famous but more in-form John Utaka (Portsmouth) to choose from, or the power of Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Everton) or the pure class and creativity that is Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth). In midfield, gifted prodigy John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) would be looking to transform his club form for his country. Nigeria is also solid at the back, particularly Everton giant Joseph Yobo and Marseille left-back Taye Taiwo.
GROUP C – Cameroon, Egypt, Sudan, Zambia
Cameroon, the second highest ranked team in this competition, would be looking to win their fifth African Cup of Nations. With Otto Pfister at the helm the “Indomitable Lions” are well on course to do so. Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona) is in a class of his own up front, so Cameroon will rely heavily on him. Other than Eto’o, goalkeeper Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Rigobert Song, Thimothee Atouba (Hamburg) and Geremi (Newcastle United) are the ones most likely to make a mark.
Five times champion and current holders, Egypt, have a nice blend of home and European based players who should theoretically give them a nice balance. Hassan Shehata would be looking to Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht), Mohamed Shawky, Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg) and Mohamed Aboutreika (El Ahly) to deliver the goods. The absence of Mido and Hossam Ghaly could prove to be crucial.
Sudan makes their first Nations Cup finals appearance in more than three decades. Interestingly, their final squad is made up of players from just two clubs-Al Hilal and Al Merreikh. Faisal Agab, Haitham Mustafa and Rtshard Justin Lado are the stalwarts in the side.
Zambia has their task cut out. Their coach, Patrick Phiri, has dropped Collins Mbesuma and Elijah Tana. The team will also be without German based duo Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone.
GROUP D – Angola, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Angola is one of the rising forces of African football. The 2010 Cup of Nations host would look to impress in this tournament. Luis Goncalves has been in charge for a long period managing many of the players since they were children. The “Palancas Negras” main weapon is Al Ahly striker, Flavio. To give him able support there will be Manucho, the 24-year-old, who recently signed for Manchester United.
Senegal, who shocked the world during the 2002 World Cup, has an enviable record in recent Cup of Nations tournaments (2000-Quarterfinals, 2002-Second place, 2004-Quarterfinals, 2006-Fourth place). Managed by Henryk Kasperczak, the “Lions of Teranga” have all kinds of options in attack. El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) seems to revel in his role as talisman. He will be ably supported by Henri Camara and Mamadou Niang (Marseille).
As host nation of the 2010 World Cup, South Africa views the Cup of Nations as an ideal opportunity to blood some youngsters. Several well known players have been left out, including Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy, as the new Brazilian manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira seeks to build for the future. The steady decline that has surrounded the “Bafana Bafana” will have to be reversed and quickly. Steven Pienaar (Everton), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn) and Sibusiso Zuma could well be the men to arrest the slide.
Tunisia, managed by Roger Lemerre, has eight players from Etoile du Sahel. The “Carthage Eagles” are confident of progressing from this group. Defensive stalwart Rahdi Jaidi (Birmingham), Brazilian born striker Silva Dos Santos and Yassine Chakhaoui (Zurich) are the mainstays of the team.
