SA Footy

This year the bi-annual tournament is being held in Angola from the 10th to the 31st Jan.

Just wondering if there is much interest in this from anyone (besides myself and Wedgie). Any tips for who will take the cup home?

Hoping to be in Ouagadougou to catch the Cote d'Ivoire vs Burkina Faso game and immerse myself in the local excitement. Also hoping that Burkina Faso win, so that I don't get stuck in another soccer riot

Sportsbet Market

Ivory Coast 3.50
Ghana 5.00
Cameroon 6.00
Nigeria 9.00
Egypt 9.00
Algeria 13.00
Tunisia 13.00
Angola 21.00
Mali 21.00
Gabon 34.00
Burkina Faso 51.00
Togo 51.00
Benin 51.00
Zambia 67.00
Malawi 101.00
Mozambique 101.00

well the favs would have to be Ivory coast, Ghana, Angola, Cameroon, Nigera, Togo the normal suspects in African Football, me I gonna say Tunisa as my dark horse also Eygpt seem to win this tournament often so dont be surprised if they win this, the other nations cant see to much comming from them to challenge any of the other nations I have mentioned.

Can't wait for this tourny. It's on setanta but I won't have it connected in time so will be relying on highlights.

I would have said Cameroon would win it but they left one of the prems best defenders in bassong out of their squad - numpties!!! Therefore it has to be Ghana IMO.

Nice work in getting Ouagadougou the quichy. Whilst in London I worked for a company with a mine in burkina faso so took a small interest in their national side. They have a fantastic striker but not much else backing him up. Good luck though have a ball. I did hear from our CEO that it's a bit of a shitter of a country unfortunately.

Found this story. it's a bit dated as Coyle is still Burnley manager

AFRICAN NATIONS: HOW CLUBS SUFFER

With the squads now named for the Africa Cup of Nations we now know which players will leave the Premier League fo the best part of a month.

The 2010 event takes place in Angola from January 10-31 (the group stage ends on January 21), meaning many of the top-flight's leading names will be missing for some crucial domestic fixtures - not only during those dates, but also in the week or so leading up to the event.

As always, the tournament is bad news for many top-flight managers and fans alike. But how bad?

Wanting to find out who will be most affected, we've taken a club-by-club look at who will be hit most due to the call-ups and what they can do to combat the withdrawals.

Arsenal - Alex Song (Cameroon), Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast)

Arsenal have a rich history of African players playing at the Emirates, but only have two who will be away in January this time around - Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue. Song, who helped Cameroon to the final in 2008, will be the bigger miss for the Gunners and he looks set to miss key games, including a home clash with Manchester United and trips to Goodison Park and Villa Park - a tough month for the Gunners. Denilson will likely come in to replace him, but does he have the quality to be as influential?

Aston Villa - Moustapha Salifou (Togo)

Villa are only missing one player in Moustapha Salifou - he represents Togo. Considering Salifou is not in the Martin O'Neill's first-team plans, the Africa Cup of Nations should have little impact on their season. Habib Beye's Senegal have not qualified.

Birmingham - None

With £40million to spend, Alex McLeish will be able to focus on transfers safe in the knowledge that none of his current squad will be involved in Angola.

Blackburn - None

Blackburn have several African players but Sam Allardyce won't have to worry. Christopher Samba's Congo have not qualified and neither have Benni McCarthy's South African side. El-Hadji Diouf has quit internationals but his Senegal haven't qualified in any case.

Bolton - Danny Shittu (Nigeria)

Shittu won't be a big miss for Bolton given he's been unable to hold down a first-team place. The new Trotters boss therefore won't be too concerned - unless he suddenly sees his other centre-backs such as Gary Cahill and Zat Knight heading to the treatment room after the festive action.

Burnley - Andre Bikey (Cameroon)

Newly-promoted Burnley have made an impressive start to their season in England's top tier but they will be without the Cameroonian Andre Bikey in January. The defender will miss games away to Manchester United and at home to Chelsea. Perhaps more importantly to Owen Coyle's side, he will also be unavailable for the matches against Stoke and Bolton. Michael Duff should deputise in Bikey's absence.

Chelsea - Michael Essien (Ghana), Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (both Ivory Coast), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

Chelsea are arguably the side who most fear the arrival of the Africa Cup of Nations every other January. As was the case in 2008, they will be missing four key players. Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will represent the much-fancied Ivory Coast, so could well be missing all the way to the final, while Michael Essien (Ghana) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) will also be unavailable, Essien having been named despite his current injury problems. The early-season form of Drogba has been impressive and he will be sorely missed, but the Blues' January schedule looks to be reasonably favourable. A home clash with Sunderland followed by away matches to relegation contenders Hull, Birmingham and Burnley mean Carlo Ancelotti should be able to have adequate cover. The lifting of a transfer ban will also help should they need replacements.

Everton - Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu (both Nigeria)

The Toffees are another side, like Chelsea, where their squad will take a big hit come January because of the Nigerian contingent at Goodison Park. David Moyes has been without Victor Anichebe since February due to injury, but Joseph Yobo has played virtually every game so far this season when fit and will be badly missed. Striker Yakubu will also be pined for if Louis Saha finds himself with another injury. The one piece of good news for Toffees' fans is that South African captain Steven Pienaar will be going nowhere - his side have failed to qualify.

Fulham - John Pantsil (Ghana), Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

Fulham are affected due to Nigeria and Ghana's participation. Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu is an important part of Roy Hodgson's team and so is full-back John Pantsil, who will represent Ghana. The pair will miss crucial home games against Portsmouth and Villa along with trips to Spurs and Blackburn so Hodgson may have to rejig his squad to cope with the losses. However, South Africa aren't involved so Kagisho Dikgacoi will be available. Likewise, Diomansy Kamara's Senegal won't be in attendance in Angola.

Hull City - Daniel Cousin (Gabon), Seyi Olofinjana (Nigeria)

Phil Brown's team will be depleted by participation in Africa. He would probably have always expected Seyi Olofinjana to be heading off, but Gabon's surprise qualification means he will also be robbed of Daniel Cousin's services too. Brown could do with a full squad during a demanding month, which includes games against Manchester United and Chelsea. The home match with Wolves is probably of higher importance and Brown will hope to have some of his men back for that. Better news for Hull fans is that Kamel Ghilas will be around - he has not been picked by Algeria - while Kamil Zayatte's Guinea have missed out and Ibrahima Sonko's Senegal are also not taking part.

Liverpool - None

At least the Africa Cup of Nations is not going to add to Rafa Benitez's woes. His transfer policy has been questioned in many quarters, but what he has not done is sign players who leave for a month biennially. David Ngog had suggested he would like to play for Cameroon, but he is not in their squad. And even Nabil El Zhar, very much a fringe player at Anfield, will be around as Morocco have not qualified.

Manchester City - Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)

One suspects City would have had their fingers crossed for a Togo defeat in the final round of qualifiers. That could have seen them miss out. However, Emmanuel Adebayor will now join Kolo Toure in Angola. At least new boss Roberto Mancini knows the money is there if he wants to buy a replacement. Toure will arguably be a bigger miss in defence than Adebayor due to the number of attacking options City possess. Perhaps they will turn to Benjani Mwaruwari, whose Zimbabwe team have not qualified.

Manchester United - None

There will be no re-jigging required for United come January as they have no African players. Given they face Arsenal away at the end of January, that is good news for Red Devils fans. It could be a key period, especially given title rivals Chelsea who, in contrast, will be badly hit by international call-ups.

Portsmouth - Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda (both Algeria), Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Aruna Dindane (Ivory Coast)

Financially-stricken Portsmouth take a big hit by losing four players - but it could have been even worse. In-form Kevin-Prince Boateng is staying at Fratton Park having initially declared himself available for Ghana, while John Utaka has not been picked by Nigeria. Aaron Mokoena (South Africa) and Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal) will also be around due to their nations not qualifying. Pompey are in a dogfight and games against West Ham, Fulham, Manchester City and Birmingham could be vital in the relegation scrap. With a transfer embargo still in place at present, it could be a tough time for Pompey. The likes of Danny Webber and Tommy Smith may have to step up in what will be a depleted forward line.

Stoke - None

The Potters have dodged a bullet, mainly because their African contingent is almost enitrely made up by Senegalese players. Salif Diao, Amdy Faye, Abdoulaye Faye and Ibrahima Sonko (the latter currently on loan at Hull) are all Senegal internationals but the 'Lions of Teranga' have failed to qualify. That means striker Mamady Sidibe was the only player in question - and given he is only just back after a long-term injury he's been overlooked by Mali.

Sunderland - John Mensah (Ghana)

Steve Bruce will see John Mensah leave for Angola to represent Ghana, but he has been in and out the side in any case. He looks set to miss the home games versus Bolton and Stoke and away trips to Chelsea and Everton. Unless injuries mount up in the New Year, the tournament should have limited impact on Sunderland.

Tottenham - None

Harry Redknapp must have been expecting to be without the Cameroon pair of Sebastian Bassong and Benoit Assou-Ekotto during January. However, both players will remain at the Lane, although that's not all good news for Spurs fans. Bassong was simply overlooked so will be available, but full-back Assou-Ekotto withdrew from the Cameroon squad after picking up a groin injury which means he's unlikely to play club football in January.

West Ham - None

No hammer blow from Africa for the Hammers. They will even get to keep Herita Ilunga, whose DR Congo have not qualified. That's all good news for Gianfranco Zola as his side continues to battle against the drop.

Wigan - Richard Kingson (Ghana)

There are plenty of South Americans in residence at the 'DW' but few Africans. In fact the Latics will only lose back-up keeper Richard Kingson, a key member of the Ghana squad, in January.

Wolves - None

Wolves have nothing to fear from the Africa Cup of Nations. Defender George Elokobi has declared his interest in playing for Cameroon but so far he's yet to be capped by the Indomitable Lions and was left out of their squad for the tournament

togo team fired apon with machine guns i have heard in the news?

Bulldog wrote:togo team fired apon with machine guns i have heard in the news?

Yep, a couple of blokes hurt. Adebayor is OK, but he did dive down pretty quick once the firing started......

I heard that that the bus was travelling without security and Togo did not inform anyone that they were travelling by land

Togo have now withdrawn from the comp.

Not suprising really.

I guess the question now must be, how safe will the World cup be? South Africa has a lot of enemies in Africa and it is already one of the most violent countries on the planet.

they havent withdrawn only a few players. All the talk is about adebayor ...what about the rest of the team mates, officals etc that were under attack also. adebayor (even if he was still with Arsenal) is not the only player involved . So im not bitter DA before you ask

The opening game was incredible.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=285629&cc=3436

Hosts Angola led 4-0 (the 4th scored in the 74th minute) before Mali fought back to claim a 4-4 draw.

Bulldog wrote:they havent withdrawn only a few players. All the talk is about adebayor ...what about the rest of the team mates, officals etc that were under attack also. adebayor (even if he was still with Arsenal) is not the only player involved . So im not bitter DA before you ask

Togo have withdrawn mate.

brod wrote:I heard that that the bus was travelling without security and Togo did not inform anyone that they were travelling by land

The bus was travelling through the troubled Congo/Angola border regoin under escort from Angolan security forces.

The convoy was ambushed by rebels not targeting the Togo players, but fighting against the Angolan forces. Angola still has a number of disputed regions and this was the cause of the incident - nothing to do with football or Togo.

RoosterMarty wrote:The opening game was incredible.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=285629&cc=3436

Hosts Angola led 4-0 (the 4th scored in the 74th minute) before Mali fought back to claim a 4-4 draw.

WOW.
Do you have Setanta?

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26574736-23215,00.html

Whadda game !! After the first Mali goal, the commentator "Too little too late" LOL !!

Bloody hell, 2 goals down after 90 minutes and escaping with a draw is outrageous ... I'm not familiar with the relative strength of each team/nation, but that has to be a massive psychological blow for the Angolans!!!

DA - nope still haven't got Setanta. Is it worth it?

Jabber - that commentary is gold!

RoosterMarty wrote:DA - nope still haven't got Setanta. Is it worth it?

Jabber - that commentary is gold!

Setanta apparently have the rights to the ACN and are showing every game live.

I don't think it's shown anywhere else. Certainly not live on Foxtel

$13/month (as part of your foxtel subscription) is definitely worth it during proper football season. But I'd say over the summer it'd be a waste of the equivalent of a 6 pack.

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Malawi 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
Angola 1 0 1 0 4 4 0 1
Mali 1 0 1 0 4 4 0 1
Algeria 1 0 0 1 0 3 –3 0

Angola 4 – 4 Mali
Malawi 3 – 0 Algeria

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Burkina Faso 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Côte d'Ivoire 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Togo withdrew from the tournament after the attack on their bus upon arriving in Cabinda

Côte d'Ivoire 0 – 0 Burkina Faso

Group C
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mozambique 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Benin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group D
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gabon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Zambia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0