Zambia and Ivory coast reach in the final of Nations cup.

08.02.12: (SF-1): Zambia  1-0   Ghana

ZAM: Mayuka 78'

08.02.12: (SF-2): Mali  0-1   Ivory Coast

IVC : Gervinho 45'

08.02.2012: Top-ranked Ivory Coast reach in the African Nations Cup final to meet Zambia who stun Hot Favourite Ghana. In the fist Semifinal in Bata Zambia's Emmanuel Mayuka struck just 12 minutes from time to eliminate the highly fancied Ghana, the 2010 World Cup team.

In the first Semi Ghana dominated the match but Zambia scored against the run of play in 77th minute when substitute Mayuka, received the ball with his back to goal. The 20-year-old striker fired home from outside the penalty area. controlled it with his first touch then swung and sent a shot curling past Adam Kwarasey and in off the foot of the post. That was the 3rd goal of Mayuka in the tournament.

In 7th minute Ghana's Asamoah Gyan's penalty shot saved by Kennedy Mweene, marking a second vital miss for his country in major competition after his failure to score in the last minute of the World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay in Johannesburg. In 84th minute Derek Boateng of Ghana showed red card and sent off.

Last editopn's runner-up Ghana's loss added the early exits of Morocco, Senegal and co-hoster Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The Zambia players to dedicate Africa Cup of Nations final to victims of 1993 Gabon air disaster. Many African soccer experts consider that the 1993 Zambia team was the greatest and the current squad acknowledge that they are playing for their predecessors.

Zambia : Mweene, Francis Kasonde, Sunzu, Himoonde, Joseph Musonda, Nkausu, Andrew Sinkala, Chansa, Oswald Kalamba, Katongo, Chamanga.

.. Francis Kasonde, Joseph Musonda, Andrew Sinkala, Oswald Kalamba ..Those 1st eleven Players of Zambia played in India against Dempo SC on 29th November in a friendly at Goa where they won 5-0. and in first match they beat GOA XI 4-1. Before participating in the African Cup of Nations the Trip was their trainaing camp.

Ghana : Kwarasey, Inkoom, Boye, Mensah, Lee Addy Boateng, Annan Dede, Asamoah, Jordan; Gyan

In an another Semi final match between Ivory Coast and Mali, The hot favourite Ivory coast win by s solitary goal through Gervinho. The Arsenal striker Gervinho's solo moment of brilliance deep into the first half gave the Elephants' a 1-0 win and left them on a collision course with Zambia. Ivory Coast Star players Chelsea's Drogba missed a chance to score in 5th minute when his shot hits the cross bar and went out.

For the Ivorians this will be their first appearance in the Nations Cup climax since they were beaten by Egypt in Cairo in 2006.

Mali now meet Ghana in a third place playoff game in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea on Saturday. The final is in Libreville on Sunday.

Orange CAN 2012: How to qualify .

BRYSON MYKOL : In case of equality of points between two or more teams, at the conclusion of the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria:

72.1. Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question.

72.2. The best goal difference in the matches between the teams.

72.3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned.

72.4. Goal difference in all group matches.

72.5. Greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches.

72.6. Fair Play points system taking into account the number of yellow and red cards.

72.7. Drawing of lots by CAF Organising Committee.

Libya coach Paqueta happy to remain in contention..

BY BRYSON MYKOL : Libya coach Marcos Paqueta is a happy man to remain in contention for a place at the last eight at the ongoing 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations. The Libyans reignited their chances after holding Group A favourites Zambia, to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday at a rain-soaked Estadio de Bata.

"The weather made it difficult for both teams; one side of field was soggy and we had to play at one part of the pitch. The second half was better. The result is a fair reflection of the game as the two teams fought hard.

"Although we drew today, we still have a chance to qualify. But that will depend on the result of the other match (Equatorial Guinea versus Senegal). The Brazilian expressed satisfaction with the point grabbed at the expense of the Chipolopolos under such difficult conditions.

"We played against a Zambian team who are now favourites in the group. We took a risk since they have pacy midfielders. We had a mission to go forward and look for a goal. "Our next game is against Senegal, which is a very respectable team in Africa. We hope to map out the right strategy to face them."

The Libyans will wrap up their group phase campaign against Senegal on January 29 in Bata

Equatorial Guinea won but Lybia - Zambia drew the match..

25.01.12: (GR-A): Libya   2-2   Zambia

LYB : Saad 5', 47'
ZAM : Mayuka 29', C. Katongo 54'

25.01.12: (GR-A): Equatorial Guinea   2-1   Senegal

EQG: Randy 62', Kily 90+4'
SEN : Sow Goal 89'

25.01.2012: Late goal of Equatorial Guinea helped them to beat Senegal 2-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations to seal a spot in the quarter-finals.

David Alvarez scored in the 94th minute to secure the victory and eliminate one of the pre-tournament favourites Senegal from African Cup of Nations.

The late winner sparked jubilation at the 37,500-capacity Estadio de Bata. Iban Iyanga's header made co-hosts ahead in the 62nd minute. Moussa Sow snatched an 89th-minute equalizer, but his effort goes in vain. Earlier, Senegal coach Amara Traore dropped Captain Mamadou Niang to the bench to recover from 2-1 loss to Zambia in the opening match.

In other match, Zambia rallied twice in a 2-2 draw with Libya and needs just a draw to progress also from Group A on a waterlogged pitch at the African Cup of Nations.

Ahmed Osman scored the both goals for Libya in starting of each half. Emmanuel Mayuka volleyed an equalizer in the 29th and Christopher Katongo headed Zambia level for the second time in the 54th.

The match was delayed for more than an hour after a 25-minute tropical downpour. Earlier during an eventful day at the African Cup, Morocco goalkeeper Issam Badda was diagnosed with a benign form of malaria and received a blood transfusion at a hospital in co-host Gabon.

Tunisia upset Morocco while Gabon beat Niger..

23.01.2012:Gabon  2-0  Niger
GAB : Aubameyang, N'Guema

23.01.2012:Morocco  1-2  Tunisia
MOR : Kharja
TUN : Korbi, Msakni

Tunisia beat Morocco in 2-1 after 2004 final to make a brilliant start in their campaign. Khaled Korbi opened the scoring for the Carthage Eagles from a curling free kick straight into Morocco's net. Skipper Houcine Kharjah scored the equaliser in 76th minute from a header of Kantari.

Substitute Youssef Msakni scored the winner for Tunisia with a wonderful solo effort in the 4 minutes before the end. He past Ahmed Kantari and Badr El Kaddouri before rifling a shot into the bottom left corner via the shins of Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia.

Morocco started surprisingly with the QPR playmaker, Adel Taarabt on the bench. Through they got plenty of chances throughout the match. Arsenal striker Chamakh missed several chances.

But it was a day of Youssouf Msekni – A great performance from the substitute, he turned the game when he came on and stemmed the Moroccan attacks, as well as scoring a mesmerising goal that turned out to be the winner.

Morocco : Lamyaghri, Chretien, Benatia, Kantari, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Kharja, Amrabat, Boussoufa, Assaidi, Chamakh. Subs: Taarabt, Hadji, El Arabi.

Tunisia : Mathlouthi, Ifaa, Haggui, Abdennour, Jemal, Korbi, Traoui, Dhaouadi, Chikhaoui, Allagui, Khelifa. Subs: Msekni, Ragued, Chermiti.

While in the other match of the day, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played a starring role as co-hosts Gabon got their African Nations Cup campaign off to a brilliant winning start over debutants Niger in Libreville.

Gabon took the lead in the 30th minute through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who converted a deep cross from Stephane Nguema. Aubameyang's downward header was parried by Niger's goalkeeper Daouda, but Nguema was on hand to turn in the rebound from close range in 44th minute.

Gabon had many chances to increase their goal tally but failed to utilise them.

Gabon : Ovono Ebang, Mouele, Ecuele Manga, Ebanega, Moussono, Madinda,Moubamba, Biyogo Poko (Palun 90), Mouloungui, N'Guema (Mbanangoye 75), Aubameyang (Cousin 84).

Niger : Daouda, Kader Amadou, Mohamed, Soumaila, Lancina, Mazadou (Bulus 57), Issoufou, Laouali, Issoufou (Seydou Ali 43), Talatou (Moutari Amadou 63), Moussa Maazou.

Drogba's winner secure Ivory Coast their first win

22.01.2012 (GR-B): Ivory Coast   1-0   Sudan ( FT )
IVC: Didier Drogba 39'

22.01.2012: Sudan made it tough to the Group B favourites Ivory Coast to win their first match. The Elephants, Ivory Coast dominate the first half, but they waited for 39th minutes when Chelsea striker Skipper Didier Drogba scored the winner.

With the missing of Togo, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa; Ivory Coast is one of the favourites with Ghana, Senegal. While stars like Eto'o, Ameobi, Mikel, Adeboyer, Alex Song will miss this tournament this year this is a great chance to players like Yaya Toure, Drogba, Demba Ba, Gervinho, Chamakh, Kolo Toure to shine in this tournament. In the first match Drogba made this impact perfectly.

Gervinho fired over with the first shot of the match before Najem was booked for fouling the Arsenal forward. Finally in 39th minute Salomon Kalou crossed from the left for his Chelsea team-mate Drogba to head home his 51st international goal.

Sudan, 120th ranked started the second half brightly against 18th Ivory Coast were almost rewarded when Eltaib Mudather's cracking shot was turned onto the crossbar by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry. While Ivory Coast also some good chances while Gervinho was off target.

Ivory Coast starts this Africans Cup of Nations with a winning note, but being a tournaments favourites did not make a big impact to their fans.

Ivory Coast : Barry, Lolo, Bamba, K Toure, Tiene, Kalou (Gradel 64), Gosso, Tiote (Keita 80), Y Toure, Drogba, Gervinho (Doumbia 89).

Sudan : Maghoub, Ballah, Ali, Abdullah, Basheer, Kamal (Alrahman 62), Yousif, Nazar, Mustafa, Mudather, Bashir (Tahir 74).

22.01.2012 (GR-B): Burkina Faso   1-2   Angola ( FT )
BKF : Tarore 57'
ANG : Mateus 48', Manucho 68'

This will be the first ever match in African Nations cup of Equatorial Guinea. "The National Lightning" nick name of the host country will be looking to secure a win against Libya which will be their 3rd participation in the Tournament.

In an another match of Group A where Senegal will face Zambia. Tournament Favourite Senegal who have made 11 appearances and got the runners-up position in 2002 and also participate in the Kora - Japan World Cup in the same year.

On the other hand Zambia who have appeared 14 times in the tournament. The Zambians scored 11 goals in their run qualification and trying to continue their scoring run continues in the tournament. Zambia who won 5-0 against India recently in a friendly match at Goa.

Equatorial Guinea and Gabon is joint host countries of this year's edition. This year Nigeria senior national side failed to qualify in the trounament from a group topped by Guinea. Like Nigeria some big names will be missing in the event are 7 time winners Egypt and 4 times winners Cameroon and South Africa.

In 2010 Egypt's Ahmed Hassan got the most valuable player award in the Tournament for 2nd time as he got the award in 2006 also. In the absence of those big names Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, Senegal and Morocco have tipped as the front-runners to win the title.