[HibeeJibee]

Ten days until the (approaching annual) festival of African football gets underway, a tournament which has grown in popularity and exposure over here recently.

Unfortunately, the BBC will no longer be providing their TV coverage... which only a few years ago amounted to every game live... but British Eurosport will be covering most games for those with access to that channel. Not sure if cost-cuts or lack of big-name qualifiers explains BBC's retreat.


Groups (my predicted progressors in red) are:

GROUP A
Equatorial Guinea
Zambia
Senegal
Libya

GROUP B
Ivory Coast
Angola
Burkina Faso
Sudan

GROUP C
Gabon
Tunisia
Morocco
Niger

GROUP D
Ghana
Guinea
Mali
Botswana

Full schedule:
http://en.wikipedia....ons#Group_stage


Most will be predicting a Ghana-Ivory Coast final, and not much comeptition outside... particularly with the litany of missing "big-names", including Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria... but there are a few possible challengers including Tunisia and Senegal. Some are whispering about the possibility of co-hosts Gabon making a name for themselves, but whether that's built on hope versus expectation remains to be seen.

As interesting will be the usual off-field antics which make the ACN that bit more colourful... the player strikes, the fan costumes, the managerial sackings, the celebrations.

No Scottish-based players have yet been called-up, nor look likely... although Morocco's el Kadouri (Celtic until last week) travels, as does Guinea's famous ex-Celt, Bobo Balde, one-time Rangers striker Daniel Cousin (Gabon), and former Hibs favourite Sol Bamba (Ivory Coast). Ghana take ex-Hamilton striker Derek Asamoah!!


Bring on Africa Cup of Nations 2012!!

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 11 January 2012 - 00:45

[GingerSaint]

When was the last time Egypt didn't make the ACN?

Ivory Coast are massive underachievers for the squad they have, so I reckon it will be a Senegal - Ghana final with Ghana edging it.

[craigkillie]

I thought I read something about this being on ITV4.

[GingerSaint]

craigkillie, on 11 January 2012 - 01:03, said:

I thought I read something about this being on ITV4.

Yes.

[Sherrif John Bunnell]

I love the ACN, easily my favourite national team tournament outside the World Cup and Euros. I think Libya could be the surprise team of the tournament, possibly a fairytale win like when Iraq won the Asian Cup in 2007.

I will be supporting Niger in the tournament as I reckon they bring the highest potential for witchcraft and dubious looking 'teenagers'. I also hope to see the famous Ghana fan with the boiling pot on his napper.

[HibeeJibee]

craigkillie, on 11 January 2012 - 01:03, said:

I thought I read something about this being on ITV4.

GingerSaint, on 11 January 2012 - 01:07, said:

Yes.

Cheers lads... all I'd found was listings that didn't have anything bar Eurosport (unsurprising as ITV4 are only showing 1 group-stage game plus 1 tie from each KO round), and a thread on Digital Spy. Nice there's some terrestrial coverage.

[cityfan]

Senegal represent some decent value at the 7/1 odds available IMO.

Undefeated in qualifying in a group containing Cameroon, they have a pretty strong squad that has 10 Ligue 1 and 3 Premier League based players with only 2 home based players, who are both back up goalkeepers. They look particularly strong up front with options such as Ba, Cisse, Sow and Niang available. I've had a wee nibble on them.

[DJP]

I am guessing the Ivory Coast are favourites? With players such as Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Kalou, Gervinhio, Tiote, Eboue. In saying that, the North African countries normally catch my eye, had Algeria to win it last time round, beaten by Egypt in last final. I see Egypt didn't even qualify this time round.

[Latino Lover]

Think I'll have a few quid on Mali e/w. I know Equitorial Guinea have called up a few Spanish born players from lower leagues so they may not be as bad as everyone expects, it's really pissing me off that a local journalist keeps saying it's being held in Guinea when it's a totally different part of the continent.

[Kejan]

Love this tournament. Excited to see Equatorial Guinea and what they can offer. A squad made up of players called Juvenal, Balbao, Bolado, Achille Pensy and of course, RANDY up front!

African goalkeepers flap at balls coming straight to their chest or diving on the ground before a shot is even fired and those madcaps all wear trackie bottoms too.

[Kejan]

What about Libya as outsiders?

Similar to Iraq in the 2007 Asian Cup. I seen the final andwas fantastic vewing after the hell their nation had been through for the 4 years before that to see them all united and lifting that trophy.

This post has been edited by Kejan: 11 January 2012 - 12:59

[JamboMikey]

Mon the Burkina Faso!

This post has been edited by JamboMikey: 11 January 2012 - 14:38

[Swampy]

Kejan, on 11 January 2012 - 11:30, said:

Love this tournament. Excited to see Equatorial Guinea and what they can offer. A squad made up of players called Juvenal, Balbao, Bolado, Achille Pensy and of course, RANDY up front!

African goalkeepers flap at balls coming straight to their chest or diving on the ground before a shot is even fired and those madcaps all wear trackie bottoms too.

Javier Balboa is a top-class player when on form. I'd go so far as to call him the most naturally gifted winger at the whole tournament.

[bullywee]

we hate roman catholics
we hate prodestants too
we hate jews and muslims
but zambia we love you

[Distant Doonhamer]

HibeeJibee, on 11 January 2012 - 00:38, said:

Unfortunately, the BBC will no longer be providing their TV coverage... which only a few years ago amounted to every game live... but British Eurosport will be covering most games for those with access to that channel.
[/u][/b][

Delighted BBC not showing this if it means the truly dreadful Garth Crooks won't be involved.

[lichtie23]

I fancy Senegal to win it a this year

[The Troll]

I'm backing Gabon.They were really really unfortunate not to make the World Cup ahead of Cameroon. They have a exciting young team and have a young centre half called Bruno Manga, who was signed by Lorient to replace Laurent Koscielny. AND most importantly they have the best keeper in Africa, a man being linked with several European clubs. Didier Ovono is his name..

[partick_twinny]

The Troll, on 11 January 2012 - 18:07, said:

... AND most importantly they have the best keeper in Africa, a man being linked with several European clubs. Didier Ovono is his name..

Is that like being the nicest looking woman in Dundee?

[G_Man1985]

Tunisa i fancy to win it

[rajpelt]

Morocco look to have a fairly strong squad? no?

[lichtie23]

I see that ITV 4 are only showing 4 live games but how many are Eurosport showing?

[Lambie's Pigeon Feed]

No Crooks and Bright? Given the blanket coverage of all things football by Sky Sports I'm surprised they didn't pick this up, would be cheap as chips and plenty of Premier League stars to harp on about, then again Copa American got pish coverage as well, ESPN didn't even afford it analysts.

No idea who will win, I'm punting for Senegal.

The goalkeepers are defo the best thing about this tournament.

[Bluenose5]

Sherrif John Bunnell, on 11 January 2012 - 01:23, said:

I love the ACN, easily my favourite national team tournament outside the World Cup and Euros. I think Libya could be the surprise team of the tournament, possibly a fairytale win like when Iraq won the Asian Cup in 2007.

I will be supporting Niger in the tournament as I reckon they bring the highest potential for witchcraft and dubious looking 'teenagers'. I also hope to see the famous Ghana fan with the boiling pot on his napper.

That's what is great about this tournament, all the different characters in the crowd doing all sorts of weird stuff, the witchcraft being performed on the side of the pitch and the controversies. I will be going for Tunisia but I wouldn't be surprised to see Senegal win it.

[HibeeJibee]

All the squads are now out... Angola have called-up Nando of Augsburg despite the fact that he played for Germany at U21 level and they haven't applied for FIFA approval for his switch yet, so he might not feature.

Squads: http://en.wikipedia...._Nations_squads

Nando: http://news.bbc.co.u...ll/16562664.stm

[HibeeJibee]

In an attempt to raise the money to pay for the team's costs during the tournament, the government of Niger has introduced a levy of 1.3p on all mobile phonecalls within the country for the next month!!