Ghana uses flame-throwers to clear slum for football - Times Online

Reminds me of something...

I picked up the latest edition of New African magazine the other day, where they have a few ecent articles focused on the tournament.

The premiership is going to lose a lot of talented players during this tournament.

Arsenal: will definatly miss Eboue, and Toure. Without Toure it would mean we will have to use Senderos, and I don't like him. He is a liability.

Chelsea: Are already missing Lampard and Terry. Take the likes of Essien Kallou, and Obi Mikael out and who is left. Joe Cole and Wright Phillips can't hold it down on there own.


Portsmouth: Where do I even begin. Half the team will be missing.


However all will depend on who the managers buy during the transfer window.


As for the African Nations Cup I will give my views on each group at a later date, however I will say that I think its notgoing to be as staright forward as some people think.

Nigeria s group is quite hard, and Group D is quite open.

It would be nice though for the Nations cup to be held in the summer...but still the way the premiership managers have been putting their excuses in what ever happened to the reserve side funny enough its the big clubs with money doing the most bitching...can't wait still goals galore and raw skill
Trips to Ghana and Accomodation are pretty expensive not for the average ghanian

SUNDAY 20 JANUARY
Group A: Ghana v Guinea, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


MONDAY 21 JANUARY
Group A: Namibia v Morocco, Accra
1445 GMT, BBCi

Group B: Nigeria v Ivory Coast, Sekondi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group B: Mali v Benin, Sekondi
1900 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


TUESDAY 22 JANUARY
Group C: Egypt v Cameroon, Kumasi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group C: Sudan v Zambia, Kumasi
1915 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY
Group D: Tunisia v Senegal, Tamale
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group D: South Africa v Angola, Tamale
1900 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


THURSDAY 24 JANUARY
Group A: Guinea v Morocco, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group A: Ghana v Namibia, Accra
1915 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE



FRIDAY 25 JANUARY
Group B: Ivory Coast v Benin, Sekondi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group B: Nigeria v Mali, Sekondi
1915 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


SATURDAY 26 JANUARY
Group C: Cameroon v Zambia, Kumasi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group C: Egypt v Sudan, Kumasi
1915 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


SUNDAY 27 JANUARY
Group D: Senegal v Angola, Tamale
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group D: Tunisia v South Africa, Tamale
1915 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


MONDAY 28 JANUARY
Group A: Ghana v Morocco, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group A: Guinea v Namibia, Sekondi
1645 GMT BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


TUESDAY 29 JANUARY
Group B: Nigeria v Benin, Sekondi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group B: Ivory Coast v Mali, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY
Group C: Egypt v Zambia, Kumasi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group C: Cameroon v Sudan, Tamale
1645 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE


THURSDAY 31 JANUARY
Group D: Tunisia v Angola, Tamale
1645 GMT, BBCi

Group D: Senegal v South Africa, Kumasi
1645 GMT, BBCi

Highlights
1900 GMT, BBC THREE



SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi


Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Sekondi
2000 GMT, BBC THREE



MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY
Group C winners v Group D runners-up, Kumansi
1645 GMT, BBCi


Group D winners v Group C runners-up, Tamale
2000 GMT, BBC THREE



THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY
Winner quarter-final 1 v Winner quarter-final 4, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi


Winner quarter-final 2 v Winner quarter-final 3, Kumansi
2000 GMT, BBC THREE



SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Third place play-off, Accra
1645 GMT, BBCi


SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Final, Accra
1630 GMT, BBC TWO

Group A
Ghana, Namibia, Guinea, Morocco


This group should be straight forward. Ghana have been on a good run lately, and Morocco are a good quality team. I saw Morocco play Senegal , and they totally outclassed them. The match was in Paris,and was live on Eurosport. They beat them 3-0. I have not seen Guinea play for quite a while, so I have no idea what there current form is like. I have also never seen Namibia play either.


All eyes will be on Essien. Appaih will not be there apparently.


Group B
Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast


I am totally backing my country Nigeria to go through. However it will not be as simple as some people think. Some people I have spoken to already think that Nigeria and Ivory Coast will breeze through this group, I think m=Mali will prove to be a challenge.

A few years ago I would of brushed aside Mali , however ever since they hosted the African Nations Cup a few years back they have started to gain momentum, and are slowly become a force. They have one of the best Strkers in Europe Freddie Kanoute upfront, and lets not forget, Diarra (Real Madrid), and Sissoko (Liverpool).


Nigeria have a score to settle with Ivory Coast as they were the same team who knocked us out last time in the semi-final stage, in Egypt. Right now they are arguably the most complete African team. Drogba is still not match fit, however they still have the likes of Kalou, and Kone. They are also on of the few African teams who have a above average defence. According to the tournament schedule Nigeria play them first. I am looking forward to this.


Nigeria have to ability to win this group, however it depends WHICH NIGERIA SHOW UP?. Lately they have been unpredictable. I went to see them play Ghana, and it appalled me the way they played. They lacked seriousness. Only 2 players were making an effort. One thing I noticed in that game was that Nigeria were scared to take chances. Whilst Ghana were taking every half chance, and succeeding, Nigeria were continually trying to create the perfect setup, and failed.

Nigeria can't afford to be so picky. one thing which many African teams have in common, is that they do not have the best Goalkeepers, so Nigeria should really take every chance given, instead of holding up the ball for so dame long.

I believe Obi Mikael, and Peter Odemwengie, and John Utaka will be key players.



I have never seen Benin play.

Group C
Egypt, Sudan, Zambia, Cameroon


Cameroon, will be the dark horses in my opinion,. People seem to have sidetracked them (maybe because of the world cup upset).

I have not seen them play since they played Egypt in the World Cup qualifiers.


Egypt should qualify along with Cameroon, but for some reason I can't see them making great headwaves. Of all the Northern African teams Morocco seem the strongest.


I have never seen Zambia or Sudan play.


Group D
Tunisia, Angola, South Africa, Senegal



In all honesty anyone can qualify from this group. Its wide open.


Tunisia: in the pst have proven to be quite strong . However that was mainly due to their Brazilian Striker, however I can't knock them as they seem reasonably organised.


Angola: were lucky to get into the World Cup. FIFA changed the goal difference rule 9thats the only reason why they went through). I will give them credit though, they fought hard in the world cup, plus it seems they have slowly building off the momentum from the world cup. For example in the lead up to the NATIONS cup they defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in November.



Senegal: Though they got outclassed by Morocco, they have too much quality, espacially going forward. They are capable of going far in this tournament.


South Africa: It would not suprise me if they went out in the first round. Whoever is in charge of the SA Football Federation needs to be sacked. They have been disappointing for a while.

The potential is there but they need the right coach. I can't remember which tournament it was but, they brought in some idiot coach called Demetri (I may have spelt his name wrong), and he totally messed up the team.

He left out key European based players, focusing mainly n the home-based players, and then organised only 1 pre tournament warm up match. How the hell is that efficient preparation for a team who have never played together in there lives.


I am really not sure how they will figure.


Apparently they have again dropped there best Striker from the squad
BBC SPORT | Football | African | SA drop McCarthy for Nations Cup

Blatter insists on timing change


Fifa president Sepp Blatter has told the BBC that the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations must be changed.
Blatter said that by 2016, the tournament must be held in June and July.

Earlier this week the Confederation of African Football (Caf) insisted that biennial competition will continue to kick off in January.

There have been frequent complaints from European clubs who lose key players to the tournament.

"This is a tradition, but one should have now the courage to go into the international calendar and see if it's not possible to deal with it," said Blatter.

"We put a target for 2016 that by that time the international calendar must be definitely in accordance with the interests of everybody."

Around 40 African players in the English Premier League will be in Ghana for the Nations Cup.

Caf has maintained that the June weather in much of Africa is not ideal for football.

There would also be the problem of a clash with the World Cup every four years, but Blatter suggested that the Nations Cup could be moved to odd years.

BBC SPORT | Football | Africa Cup of Nations | Blatter insists on timing change

F*ck Blatter....

My arse....NO they should never change the dates. Jan-March are best times in most of Africa...little rain and not too hot.....

Maybe, because theres nothing you can do about the weather.

If we come in line though, then top European clubs will be inclined to buy MORE African players. However if this move effects the development of African football and our domestic leagues etc, then again, the competition should stay where it is.

Europeans have the financial muscle when it comes to football not surprised at flexing their muscle it would be interesting to see if Africa can mount a lobby to stop this..however i can see some siding with their colonial masters...sod them no Africans..European leagues would fail they need us just as well...let them go recruit this spoilt european boys that would rather play with their X-box all day...Arsene Wengr can kiss my a**

The Super-Egos oops!!...super-Eagles have landed in Accra...